SANTA CLARA — Aaron Banks’ smile informed a lot, and never solely how his preseason debut went Friday evening because the 49ers’ new left guard.
This was validation for all of the work he’s put prior to now yr to reshape his physique, about all of the method sharpening nonetheless forward of him, and, most of all, concerning the pleasure of enjoying his longest in a recreation since his All-America days in 2020 at Notre Dame.
“I nonetheless have stuff to be taught from and get higher at, however I feel it went properly,” Banks stated at his locker after the 49ers’ 28-21 house win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
On the opposite aspect of the locker room sat the 49ers’ different beginning guard, their different thriller man on a rebuilt offensive line. Spencer Burford, a rookie, beamed with pleasure at his professional debut.
“It was all the pieces you dream about and somewhat bit extra,” Burford stated. “If you get lastly on the market, there are nerves and jitters, particularly being a rookie beginning the primary recreation.
“It was electrifying. I can’t complain.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan certain didn’t, both, when requested about his two new guards Saturday on a media name. “We acquired to see why they’re within the place that they're, having a possibility to be our starters,” Shanahan stated.
Not so splendid was the damage report for 2 beginning linemen from previous seasons: heart/guard Daniel Brunskill (hamstring) and proper sort out Mike McGlinchey (knee).
Brunskill’s pressure from Friday’s lone snap will sideline him a number of weeks, and that primarily may lock up the beginning heart position for Jake Brendel, barring the acquisition of a free agent resembling J.C. Tretter. McGlinchey’s surgically repaired quadriceps checked out OK however his knee irritation will preserve him out of this coming week’s practices and recreation at Minnesota.
If the road’s inside is the 49ers’ weak hyperlink on this season’s anxious transition to quarterback Trey Lance, then reps are useful commodities for Banks and Burford.
Name them the “Filler Bs.” Banks, Brendel, Burford, and Brunskill shall be filling jobs a technique or one other.
“Good to play them a bunch as a result of they each want it. They want these three (preseason) video games,” Shanahan stated of Banks and Burford. “They confirmed on the market why we consider in them. I’m actual enthusiastic about them. Hopefully they get higher every week.”
Banks is within the greatest highlight. Making his NFL debut final Aug. 14, the second-round draft decide shortly injured his shoulder towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. That forged his rookie yr into the shadows, rising for less than 5 offensive snaps all season in a win at Jacksonville.
Banks, along with his 325-pound physique now extra refined, definitely relished his 41 first-half snaps in Friday’s homecoming onto the sector. “Even by all these performs (Friday evening), I nonetheless felt in higher form than final yr,” Banks stated.
Neither he nor Burford acted like they’d made it, that their beginning spots have been secured, that it’s clear crusing for an eternity of blocking for Lance. “I performed a fairly good recreation, however I felt I left quite a bit on the desk and there are enhancements to be made,” Burford stated.
On the second sequence, the 49ers allowed Lance to get sacked, and Burford blamed it on miscommunication, apparently between him and Justin Skule, who changed proper sort out Mike McGlinchey after one sequence.
What occurred subsequent was enormous. Shanahan had sufficient confidence within the line to name for Lance to take a deep shot, from the shotgun with a five-step drop. The road fended off Inexperienced Bay’s five-man rush, Lance stepped up because the pocket acquired squeezed, and he discovered Danny Grey for a 76-yard landing move. “We had it dialed up, and Trey does what Trey does, and Danny’s quick,” added Burford, the one projected Week 1 starter to play into the third quarter.
The 49ers’ greatest take a look at of the preseason is predicted to return with joint practices Wednesday and Thursday towards the host Minnesota Vikings, whose 3-4 defensive entrance contains former Stanford nostril sort out Harrison Phillips.
INJURY REPORT
Huge receiver Danny Grey, who caught a 76-yard landing move from Lance, got here away with hip and again soreness from his professional debut however nonetheless may see motion in Minnesota.
Different accidents have been to defensive finish Drake Jackson (neck/shoulder nerve stinger), defensive again Dontae Johnson (ribs; week-to-week), and linebacker Curtis Robinson (groin; out every week).
Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (hamstring) and defensive sort out Hassan Ridgeway (quadriceps) are anticipated to renew working towards. Defensive sort out Arik Armstead is recovering properly from an Aug. 26 knee sprain however doubtless gained’t apply till a minimum of one other week.
QB CAMARADERIE
Pondering of his teammates’ future trophy instances, Lance retrieved the footballs that produced Grey’s landing catch and Purdy’s first landing move. “I do know somebody did it for me, George (Kittle) did it for me final yr, so I do know it’s a particular one to have,” Lance stated.
All three quarterbacks had a landing move and no interceptions. Lance was 4-of-5 for 92 yards, Sudfeld 8-of-11 for 103 yards and Purdy 3-of-6 for 36 yards.
Shanahan stated of his movie assessment on Lance: “He did job, didn’t have any unhealthy performs, was in keeping with what he did and it was first outing for him.”
SERMON’S START
Trey Sermon averaged only one.8 yards per carry (six runs, 11 yards) whereas beginning at working again rather than Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and Jeff Wilson Jr. (private matter). Shanahan got here away “actual blissful” with what Sermon confirmed by way of enhancements from his nondescript rookie yr. “He didn’t have any actual beauty that he ought to have gotten extra on, however he didn’t hesitate. He hit the outlet exhausting and did an actual good job,” Shanahan stated.
Stated Sermon: “I’m undoubtedly hungry. I really feel like I've a chip on my shoulder and that’s my mentality. There’s nothing extra on the earth I would like than to be on the market enjoying on that discipline with this staff and successful.”
WINNING COMBO
The 49ers’ successful factors – Brock Purdy’s 5-yard landing move to tight finish Tanner Hudson – didn’t simply come from an instantaneous connection. “We labored collectively every single day after apply realizing we’d have these sort of alternatives come up in preseason video games,” Purdy stated. “To search out him on the third down and scrambling, these are the sort of issues we’ve been working towards.”
Whereas Purdy is destined for a practice-squad position behind Lance and backup Nate Sudfeld, Hudson is making a tough push for a roster spot, and that could be contingent on his blocking progress. He’s caught 15-of-16 targets in coaching camp.
McCLOUD’S OPPORTUNITY
Ray-Ray McCloud’s 49ers debut noticed him, as anticipated, fielding a punt return, and made a good catch on it. That’s OK, as a result of he confirmed far more on his 4 receptions, together with a 39-yard landing catch on Nate Sudfeld’s first throw in reduction of Lance.
“All people within the NFL is aware of me as a punt returner, however I placed on show I can play offense as a receiver,” McCloud stated. “It’s all about alternative. I do know it’s preseason but it surely’s a welcome play.”
An unwelcome sight: McCloud fumbling away his last catch simply earlier than halftime. Now on his fourth time in 5 years, McCloud has 11 profession fumbles, 9 of which got here on punt returns (5 muffs).
EXTRA POINTS
— Kicker Robbie Gould reprised final season’s twin position because the 49ers’ kickoff specialist, and he needed to make a sort out with a shoulder test. Why not have punter Mitch Wishnowsky do kickoffs? “We went path final yr and he did a significantly better job at it. It allowed Mitch’s leg to remain recent all yr,” Shanahan replied.