Kyle Shanahan said he could have participated during OTAs, but the 49ers are taking it slow with Ricky Pearsall.
The San Francisco 49ers had a mandatory minicamp practice Tuesday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan discussed some of the injured players and when he expected them to return. The following players are all expected to be ready by training camp, which begins in roughly six weeks:
WR Ricky Pearsall (hamstring)
WR Jauan Jennings (calf)
DE Mykel Williams (hamstring)
DT Alfred Collins (calf)
OT Andre Dillard (ankle scope)
S J’Ayir Brown (ankle cleanup)
S George Odum (knee)
DL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)
This was the first practice that Dillard was spotted at since signing with the Niners. It had been unclear why he was absent, so an injury makes sense.
Shanahan believed Pearsall would have been healthy enough to practice during the minicamp, but the team will be careful with their first-round pick from a season ago.
Shanahan had previously stated that Collins’s calf injury was something the team knew about before the NFL Draft and that it was an injury that happened during Texas’s Pro Day.
Brandon Aiyuk, Malik Mustapha, and Kurtis Rourke don’t have timelines to return as they are all recovering from serious knee injuries. Shanahan says those are the only three players who won’t be ready for training camp. Aiyuk continues his role as a “player-coach” while he’s out.
Trent Williams and George Kittle practiced up until team drills. Spencer Burford continues to start at left tackle while Williams is out. So far, Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell are the tight ends filling in for Kittle. Williams told the media, “I could play until I’m 41. Who knows?” This is the first OTAs he’s been a part of in the past decade.
Bryce Huff received high praise from Shanahan. Kyle said Huff has the fastest-get off of any edge rusher the 49ers have had since Dee Ford. Trent said Huff is a “speed demon.”