SANTA CLARA – Ten wide receivers and running backs lined up in the long run zone for the NFL's newfangled kick return task, and one option was not just like the others: Deebo Samuel.
“I think not only we but other teams will score a lot of touchdowns as well because other teams have talented guys who are really good in open space,” Samuel said Friday after the 49ers' first kick return game of coaching camp.
The NFL's revised kickoff rules – during which blockers generally remain in place until a returner catches the ball – are more likely to bring exciting innovations to games, especially when proven stars are used as returners.
“Kyle (Shanahan) said, 'Hey man, I don't want you to do this full time. We'll just use you when we need you.' I'm OK with that,” Samuel said. “But if you want to use me full time, I'm all for it, too.”
Samuel's primary role stays as an offensive playmaker, along with his physicality enabling runs after every touch, but he has also made cameo appearances as a returner in key games since 2021, averaging 25 yards on 16 returns, including seven within the postseason, the primary of which was a 45-yard breaker to open the second half of his team's 2021 wild-card upset win at Green Bay.
Rookie running back Isaac Guerendo was considered the favourite for the returner role, but he suffered a hamstring injury throughout the first practice of camp on Wednesday. Another speedy rookie, Jacob Cowing, also appears to be injured. However, with this recent rule, teams must have more options than a typical return specialist.
“It's kind of weird when you look at it,” Samuel added. “But on the return team, we have a really big advantage. If you take a player out, it's just you and the kicker, and nine times out of 10, the kicker won't make the tackle. I'm pretty sure people will try to turn talented players into kickers just so they have a last line of defense to attack.”
Only one in every of the 49ers' 469 kick returns in history (including 42 within the playoffs) resulted in a touchdown, that of Richie James in December 2018. The previous one was within the 2011 opening game by Ted Ginn Jr., who made the 49ers' last punt return for a touchdown in the identical game.
WILLIAMS' STAFF
While wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk missed practice because of his contract suspension, Trent Williams' absence will not be being downplayed by Chris Foerster, the 49ers' offensive line coach, whose shared experience with Williams dates back to his rookie yr in Washington in 2010.
Foerster wants Williams' contract to be resolved as soon as possible, mentioning that he has stayed healthy over the past few seasons after routinely understanding every other day of three in camp. “Those reps are all important,” Foerster said. “My thing with him has been for years, yes, as a 14-year veteran and every player I've had that's gotten older, he still has to work. Everyone has to. Great basketball players still shoot free throws.”
The offensive line on Friday consisted of only two regulars: left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Colton McKivitz.
REST AND RELAXATION
Practice No. 3 saw a rest for lots of the starters: defensive end Nick Bosa, running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, cornerback Charvarius Ward, defensive tackle Maliek Collins and offensive linemen Jake Brendel, Jon Feliciano and Spencer Burford, the latter of whom all made appearances at right guard on the primary team before rookie Dominick Puni took over that role on Friday. It is unknown if Burford was injured on Thursday; Shanahan will next speak to the media after practice on Saturday.
FLOYD FLASHES
Defensive end Leonard Floyd had a powerful debut in team practice, fighting past tight end Eric Saubert and attempting to sack Purdy, who then threw a pass to Samuel that was intercepted by Isaac Yiadom. Yetur Gross-Matos was the opposite starter at defensive end while Bosa rested and observed practice.
PURDY RECOVERS
“ALL-PRO MOONEY”
About six months after his core muscle surgery, Ward is trying to improve on his career-high five interceptions from last season, which earned him his first Pro Bowl nomination and AP Second-Team All-Pro honors. “I was fine for a couple months after that, but now that I'm back doing football moves, it feels kind of weird,” Ward said. “It doesn't hurt or anything, but right now my body feels like new to me. The doctor repaired some of those soft tissue muscles. It feels different now and I'm getting used to it again.”
With Ward taking a break on Friday, Deommodore Lenoir and Yiadom served as starting cornerbacks, with Lenoir moving inside and Ambry Thomas filling in as left cornerback in nickel situations.
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