What we learned Saturday at 49ers: Bosa rests, Jones’ shoulder OK, Sherman picks Garoppolo again

While the 49ers provided positive health updates on Nick Bosa and D.J. Jones, coach Kyle Shanahan said Jimmy Garoppolo's visual discipline needs work after a second straight day of a Richard Sherman interception.

SANTA CLARA — Kyle Shanahan vowed more secrecy this training camp to keep opponents guessing, but the 49ers coach lightened his filter Saturday to pass along positive health updates.

First, Shanahan said defensive end Nick Bosa took practice off as a routine “maintenance day,” which came after Bosa sat out the final 30 minutes of Friday’s practice with what appeared to be leg tightness.

Next, defensive tackle D.J. Jones’ left shoulder checked out OK after Thursday’s exit from practice. But Jones is not in the clear and instead is in the concussion protocol.

Aside from Jalen Hurd’s season-ending knee injury last Sunday, the 49ers haven’t endured other alarms that would rule potential starters out for the Sept. 13 season opener, as scheduled. That said, tight end Ross Dwelley (foot) joined the did-not-practice list. Also there: tight end Jordan Reed (conditioning), nickel back K’Waun Williams (calf) and center Ben Garland (ankle).

Here is what else we learned at Saturday’s camp:

1. Garoppolo’s mixed bag 

Cornerback Richard Sherman intercepted a Garoppolo overthrow for the second straight day, and Shanahan did not publicly chastise his quarterback afterward. Rather, Shanahan said such practice gaffes lead to positive coaching moments, and these have more to do with Garoppolo’s visual discipline to throw off savvy cornerbacks such as Sherman.

“Those aren’t necessarily being aggressive. That’s Sherm playing with vision,” Shanahan said. “Both of those passes weren’t to the guy Sherm was covering. If you sail anything or look at one guy too long, Sherm is just going to follow your eyes and come out of nowhere.

“That’s something that does happen in games if you’re not aware of those players. It’s great to remind him, ‘Hey, you have to work on your eyes here.’ … If no one reminds you of that — like Sherm for an entire training camp — and you get reminded Week 1, it’s ‘How the heck did that happen?’ “

Sure enough, Garoppolo rebounded and finished practice by finding a wide open Kendrick Bourne for a would-be 70-yard touchdown strike. Overthrows have been a common sight on Garoppolo passes over 10 yards this camp, but he also has hit players on target, such as a brilliant throw to Trent Taylor on Saturday and then red-zone touchdowns to Brandon Aiyuk and Raheem Mostert.

2. Trent Williams’ hefty praise

Bosa could become known as one of the NFL’s all-time best pass rushers, according to left tackle Trent Williams. Williams has engaged in daily faceoffs with Bosa to help shake the physical and mental rust from not having played last season.

“He’s better than I even thought he was and I already knew he was top three or four pass rushers in the game,” said Williams, who praised Bosa’s intelligence and work ethic. “I honestly see his trajectory as being one of the best in the game when it’s all said and done. When you say who’s the best all-around D-end, Nick Bosa’s name will probably be the first to come out of a lot of people’s mouth.”

Williams said he’s reinvigorated after “being in the dumps for 16 months.” That fits right in with a team that is still agonizing over last season’s Super Bowl collapse.

“We’re super confident. They proved it last year. Even know watching film from the Super Bowl, I can feel the cringe any time that film comes on and everybody still pretty much is holding a grudge about the last game. They can’t wait to get out there and start that quest again. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

3. Solomon Thomas’ outlook

Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas has bulked up to 280 pounds, all while shedding the mental pressures of being the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2017. He enters the final year of his rookie contract with great optimism to “be the best me.

“This year is huge for me,” Thomas said. “Obviously it’s a contract year, but that’s not what’s important, that’s not in the back of my mind. I take it as a year to come into myself. I’m back inside, on the interior, where I played in college, what I got drafted for.

“I’m back in a spot I can wreak havoc and go play. It’s a year for me to go off and play, to have fun and ball out. I have nothing to lose. I’m here to play for my teammates, play for those next to me and go ball.”

While preparing for that, Thomas remains a strong advocate for mental health, a cause he took up after his sister, Ella, died in 2018.

“With everything going on in the world right now between COVID and all the racial and social injustice, it’s a hard time for mental health,” Thomas said. “People losing jobs and not having a place to go. There’s so much uncertainty in the world, it’s a really hard time for people. I’m trying to speak and put a  huge focus on mental health, and show people it’s such an important time to care about and love yourself.”

4. Cornerback review

The 49ers did not sign or draft a potential starting cornerback, and, so far, they should be pleased by the competition at the spot opposite Sherman. Emmanuel Moseley, Ahkello Witherspoon and Jason Verrett all have rotated first-team reps (not as many for Witherspoon) and each has looked like a starting-caliber cornerback.

“We chose to go with whatever’s been available. We haven’t been able to hit that and bring in a big corner, though we brought in Sherm a couple years ago and that’s paid off well,” Shanahan said. “These younger guys … if they can stay healthy and keep competing, I know there’s a number of guys we can win with.”

Witherspoon intercepted Nick Mullens, and Moseley nicely defended a deep pass to Brandon Aiyuk. As for Verrett, Shanahan noted it’s “been great to see him have a healthy camp.”

5. Rookie lineman improves

Colton McKivitz, a fifth-round draft pick, got the better of a one-on-one matchup with defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, but then came the even harder work. McKivitz, a former right tackle at West Virginia, is also auditioning at guard, and occasionally on the first team to spell Tom Compton or Daniel Brunskill. Shanahan commended McKivitiz’s grasp of the playbook through virtual meetings this offseason.

“We drafted him originally thinking he’d play tackle, then you have injuries and you can throw him at guard,” Shanahan said. “He has the ability to play center and go wherever we want him to go. If you’re not starting, you better be able to help out any way you can, and that’s why (Daniel) Brunskill has been good for us.”