Purdy shines in practice; scary moment for Samuel on TD catch
SANTA CLARA >> Friday's action at 49ers training camp saw all four quarterbacks participate in team drills, unlike the previous day when Brandon Allen got skunked on the snap count. Here is how they looked:
Brock Purdy
Even after a 20-pass barrage marked his most extensive action of training camp, Brock Purdy wasn't done. He retreated to the side field with the 49ers' three other quarterbacks for extra-credit work, and, in Purdy's case, that meant connecting with George Kittle on a couple of out routes.
No pass weighed more in Friday's two-hour session than when Purdy connected with Deebo Samuel on a 12-yard fade route for a touchdown at the end zone's front, right pylon. Covered tightly by Charvarius Ward, Samuel landed hard on the ground, apparently on his right hip, which he rubbed after a few pregnant seconds of staying on the grass while concerned teammates rushed to his aid.
Samuel threw the ball up in the air in apparent frustration after his landing. He did not require serious medical attention, and he walked off the field without a noticeable limp after practice.
Purdy completed 14-of-20 passes, with a Tashaun Gipson Sr. interception that defensive coordinator Steve Wilks called “phenomenal.” Clelin Ferrell pressured Purdy on that interception. It was the third interception thrown by Purdy in this camp, but it's worth noting that none have been snagged by cornerbacks.
Of Friday's workload, five completions went to Christian McCaffrey and three to both Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk. After a 40-yard dime to Kittle past Dre Greenlaw's one-on-one coverage, Purdy almost had a pass to Samuel intercepted when Talanoa Hufanga rushed over to help Isaiah Oliver's coverage against Samuel; Wilks said Hufanga needs to finish that play and get a better jump on it.
This marked the third sequence at camp in which Purdy practiced on back-to-back days, and among those in attendance were his parents, Shawn and Carrie.
First-team snaps have been strictly reserved for Purdy when he's practicing, and coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday: “We're not worried about Brock. Brock's the real deal. He knows how to play. We just have to have our team keep getting better, and he'll keep getting better as we go.”
Sam Darnold
Second-team reps again were split, with Darnold again going first in the rotation. He was 11of-13, with the only incompletions coming on a D'Shawn Jamison breakup and an intentional incompletion into the dirt on a blitz. Darnold's most picturesque completion came when he hit Samuel in stride on a crossing route; yes, Samuel is a starting wide receiver but Darnold was taking snaps behind second-string linemen.
Trey Lance
When practice was over and the positional groups broke off, Lance quizzed pass-game coordinator Klint Kubiak and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese about a route, illustrating the third-year quarterback's desire to still learn nuances of a system he should know well. On an 8-of-11 day, Lance's best throw was a 25-yard rope to Jauan Jennings in tight coverage against linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.
Brandon Allen
Granted no reps Thursday, Allen returned to third-string duty and completed 5-of-9 passes, the most noticeable being a completion to Danny Gray, who was then upended by Flannigan-Fowles. Linebacker Marcelino McCraryBall broke up Allen's next throw.