SANTA CLARA — Minimize a yr in the past from the 49ers’ camp, Colton McKivitz is now indispensable as their “beginning proper deal with.”
That's the time period coach Kyle Shanahan used Sunday to elucidate why McKivitiz joined almost 20 front-line gamers from suiting up in a 17-7 preseason win at Minnesota.
What does that say about Mike McGlinchey’s restoration timeline from a knee subject that’s sidelined him the previous week, because the preseason opener vs. Inexperienced Bay?
”It simply says he’s not wholesome proper now,” Shanahan stated on a media convention name. “We’re going to check him subsequent week and we’ll see how it's.”
McKivitz, thus, will begin Thursday’s preseason last at Houston, together with most who're projected for the season-opening lineup Sept. 11 at Chicago, together with quarterback Trey Lance.
By then, McGlinchey might reprise his position because the beginning proper deal with, as long as his knee cooperates, together with the quadriceps restore that sidelined him after midseason final yr.
McKivitz, a 2020 fifth-round decide, was shocked to get lower final yr, recalling final week how “I discovered the urgency of how rapidly it's important to study and adapt and get higher on this league, otherwise you’ll discover your means out faster than you'll be able to suppose.”
He spent the season on the observe squad earlier than an emergency begin instead of left deal with Trent Williams within the regular-season finale win at Los Angeles.
If proper deal with isn’t the 49ers’ largest well being disaster, then it resides amongst their wounded defensive backs. Anticipated again in observe Monday, nonetheless, are Emmanuel Moseley (hamstring), Dontae Johnson (ribs) and probably Ambry Thomas (knee). Shanahan stated cornerback Charvarius Ward (groin) ought to return subsequent week after the preseason finale, however there was no replace on security Jimmie Ward, who pulled a hamstring per week in the past.
Others anticipated again at observe are defensive deal with Arik Armstead (knee), linebacker Curtis Robinson (groin), offensive lineman Jaylon Moore (leg) and tight finish Charlie Woerner (adductor).
Casualties from Saturday’s sport have been extensive receiver Austin Mack (hamstring; out a couple of weeks) and offensive deal with Sam Schlueter (knee tendinitis; everyday).
QUARTERBACK REVIEW
With out Lance enjoying, the 49ers deployed Nate Sudfeld and Brock Purdy in a quarterback rotation. Shanahan’s assessment of every was constructive.
On Sudfeld: “Nate’s finished a superb job, so I don’t suppose (conservative passes) have been the case in any respect. … You need him to make the fitting play that you just name, relying on the protection that they see and primarily based off of how the move rush is, primarily based off of individuals beating man protection and primarily based off getting the ball to the fitting spot with the timing of the play. So I assumed Nate has had a superb camp, similar to all the opposite quarterbacks nobody’s excellent, however attempting to do it on each play.”
On Purdy, drafted final at No. 262 after 4 years at Iowa State: “Brock was a four-year starter within the Large Ten and I feel that doesn’t get talked about sufficient, how a lot expertise that's for somebody. For him to have that many video games underneath his belt, that’s plenty of soccer and I do know it’s faculty soccer, however that’s nonetheless plenty of stress from a freshman all the way in which to his senior yr. So Brock has performed plenty of quarterback and he’s come right here and hasn’t let the large lights or being round NFL gamers change that. He’s been sort of the identical man that you just’ve seen on tape and that’s allowed him to have an opportunity to get higher.”
GUARDED PRAISE
Guards Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford have been the one projected Week 1 starters to face the Vikings’ protection, and so they did so with combined outcomes.
“Each of them made some errors after which it was good to see them each come again and rebound there within the second quarter,” Shanahan stated.
One other younger guard who’s been a pleasant watch: undrafted rookie Jason Poe.
“Each time he will get on the market and has his alternatives he makes some good performs. The performs that stick out to me is how bodily he's on the sting when he's pulling and issues like that,” Shanahan stated. “I feel that stands proud to the traditional fan, however he’s a aggressive man who goes exhausting each single play. He’s been doing that since he’s gotten right here. And he’s given himself an opportunity to be on this dialogue right here on the finish.”