Closed Practice Brief: August 27, 2019
Closed Practice Brief: August 27, 2019
Injuries, Usage, Formations, Personnel:
- Corey Linsley returned after missing yesterday's practice. Otherwise same group out for the last practice of the preseason: Allen Lazard, EQ St. Brown, Kevin King, Ibraheim Campbell, Curtis Bolton, Oren Burks, Malcolm Johnson, Ento, Greg Roberts, Madison, Graham, and Gilbert. Demovsky
- Luke Getsy will call plays against KC per Matt LaFleur. LaFleur said Nathaniel Hackett has had a lot of chances to do it in the league, wanted to give Getsy a chance. Hodkiewicz
- [Noting the tweet above] BUT WHO WILL CALL TIMEOUTS NOW?!?!?! Wilde
Quarterbacks and WRs:
- GM Brian Gutekunst on the competition between Tim Boyle and DeShone Kizer for the backup quarterback job: "I think it's really close." Demovsky
- Though normally it would be a risk to switch to a No. 2 QB from outside the organization just before Week 1, the 49ers run an offense highly similar in concept and language to the one the Packers now use. Accordingly, Nick Mullens or C.J. Beathard make sense as targets. Because several teams could put in claims for either Nick Mullens or C.J. Beathard if waived, perhaps the Packers can cut the line at the checkout counter by offering a reserve player they didn't plan to retain but could likewise be difficult for the 49ers to claim off waivers. Hirschhorn
- Preseason or no preseason, Aaron Rodgers stepped off the field Monday feeling good about the tempo and efficiency of the Packers' offense. Hodkiewicz
Tight Ends:
- Gutekunst on Sternberger: "Absolutely" can contribute this year after being set back with concussion. Expects he'll have to rely on him at some point this season. Schneidman
- Aaron Rodgers struck a very positive chord about his tight end group yesterday, especially veterans Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis. He's also praised Bobby Tonyan repeatedly. Wilde
- Aaron Rodgers wanted to brag about Marcedes "Big Dog" Lewis. Rodgers: "He's really transformed his body. He looks leaner, stronger. He put a helluva lot of work in. He's going to be an important part of our locker room & our squad." Zhao
Safety:
- So far this preseason, Raven Greene has played 35 total snaps in the box (25 as a true LB, 10 as a box safety in a similar capacity). He has played 30 defensive snaps as either a slot corner or deep safety. That split might be slanted towards LB until Burks and/or Bolton return. Hirschhorn
Linebackers:
- Oren Burks said it was a partial tear of his pectoral, which is why he’ll be able to play without surgery. Huber
- He initially feared it would be a season-ending injury, but he said of his return: "I don't think months; I think it'll be a couple of weeks." He was actually out in the field today going through pre-practice stretches. Demovsky
- Brian Gutekunst on waiving Josh Jones: "It might not have been the best fit. He's a great player, we wish him the best. We really tried to make it work here, but it came to the point where it's time." Zhao
Kicker/STs:
- GM Brian Gutekunst says team has discussed possibility of whichever kicker they cut kicking for the Bears against them Week 1. Says Mason Crosby and Sam Ficken have both proven they are NFL-caliber kickers. Schneidman
Offensive/Defensive Line:
- Both Gutekunst and LaFleur have mentioned the competition at left guard remaining open. Big night for Taylor and Jenkins coming up Thursday. Nagler
Overall/Miscellaneous:
- One difficulty in opening the regular season on Thursday night: A player claimed on waivers Sunday after Saturday's final cuts would have almost no chance to play in Week 1. "It depends on who it is," Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said. Demovsky
- GM Brian Gutekunst wouldn't talk about specific players with injuries, but he did say that he wants to give "core players" an opportunity to come back later in the season off of IR. Silverstein
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Comments (9)
Swisch
August 27, 2019 at 04:23 pm
If I'm correct in remembering that both Jace Sternberger and Trevor Davis sustained their significant injuries in the joint practices with the Texans, then I'm wondering if the preseason games are safer for players than the joint practices.
***
Given the debate about the importance of preseason games -- and whether they're even necessary -- how much weight should we put on this game in the battle for back-up quarterback, or the competition for left guard, or the final spots at wide receiver?
With a lot more practices than preseason games, perhaps the practices should be by far the main consideration.
***
Anyway, I've come to the conclusion that I like watching preseason games for finding up-and-coming players. Plus, it's Packers football.
I'd also like to see our first units tuning up for the regular season, but oh well.
It's hard for me to believe that practices are as good a test as even preseason games, but to be safe it may be better to go into the regular season somewhat less ready.
Lare
August 27, 2019 at 04:52 pm
The injuries against the Texans came from one player in "no contact" drills that ended up with him getting kicked out of practice.
I would think that no-contact joint practices would generally be safer than full contact preseason games.
Coldworld
August 27, 2019 at 05:14 pm
I agree that a practice isn’t as valuable for the 60 -75 odd players who are not known starters as a game. It is typically safer because it is more controlled though.
Ultimately, the league is resolving this issue itself: veterans play less and less. Change it to one full squad preseason game against a non conference opponent and have 2 games like Thursday night will be: nobody with certainty of being on the roster.
I certainly hope that this includes Taylor and Jenkins. Don’t need either of them hurt. One starting guard and one primary back up guard: if you haven’t seen enough you should have by now.
QB test: With back half of the roster playing, this will likely be largely meaningless or a lottery depending on who gets some protection. If you must, keep it brief and let Wilkins show us if he has any OS relevance early. The mooted possible cuts by McVey, Mullins or Beathard don’t strike me as a step up particularly.
Finally, please do not suit up Raven Greene. We can not afford anyone to sneeze bear him till Campbell is healthy. Play Sheldon and Crawford at ILB 2 and Matthews at SS and ILB 3. Please!!!
Slim11
August 28, 2019 at 10:00 am
"We can not afford anyone to sneeze (n)ear him till Campbell is healthy."
Like just for this comment!
sonomaca
August 27, 2019 at 05:52 pm
Mullens is a gamer. Never quits. I’ve heard Niners will keep 3 QB’s.
TheVOR
August 27, 2019 at 08:36 pm
I just met him last week. Decent young man. I'd take him in GB in a millisecond. Be be developing a very high ceiling guy. In fact if we could do a player for player trade and land this kid? wow..
GBPDAN1
August 27, 2019 at 09:38 pm
LB Malcolm Smith released by the Niners . Maybe a stopgap at ILB?
PatrickGB
August 28, 2019 at 11:04 am
Maybe we keep both kickers. Just to make sure the Bears don’t get him. ;-)
canadapacker
August 28, 2019 at 03:56 pm
I am sure that a few other good players will be released and will be better than some of the recent additions. I hope that they let Crosby go. He has been money but his Kickoffs are way too short so unless they have somebody else do he kickoffs? How is Ficken at KO - and can Scott boom a kickoff as well as he booms punts. Crosby has had just too many critical misses as of late.