Inman: The best and worst of 49ers training camp — beyond QB drama

The 49ers wrap up the preseason Friday night after these highs and lows from four weeks of training camp

SANTA CLARA – At 49ers training camp, every quarterback snap was recorded. Overkill? Not when covering a team that ran out of healthy quarterbacks, finished a game short of the Super Bowl, and has now cast its 2021 first-round pick into limbo a la Garoppolo.

Quarterbacks have been in the spotlight throughout training camp, leading up to Friday’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. And to think, neither Brock Purdy nor his three (two?) backups had to fend off Nick Bosa’s pass rush.

If Trey Lance doesn’t want to be a part of the 49ers’ quarterback rotation — or vice versa — it shouldn’t come as a surprise, not after Purdy earned the starting job with his heroics last season, and not after Sam Darnold beat out Lance for the No. 2 spot.

Another year, another quarterback in limbo, though Lance is unlikely to make a comeback like Jimmy Garoppolo did last August. No other NFL team can match the 49ers’ never-ending quarterback drama. This camp, at least, was a lot more interesting than QB battles like Jeff Garcia vs. Rick Mirer, Alex Smith vs. Shaun Hill, Brian Hoyer vs. C.J. Beathard, and so on.

What else has Bosa missed out on over the last four weeks while he awaits the NFL’s richest non-quarterback contract ever? Let’s go over it again:

CAMP MVP

Purdy wins by a wide margin. He needed the work the most in his first practices since his elbow ligament was repaired on March 10th. He took all first-team reps, followed a pitch-count plan, regained arm strength, and displayed the same command of Shanahan’s offense as he did in last season’s rookie showcase. That is best-case scenario thinking.

MVP RUNNER-UP

Christian McCaffrey is a runner, but he’s also a receiver, a leader, and a dynamic playmaker. Consider camp without him – and without Elijah Mitchell, the frequently injured running back who missed nearly two and a half weeks with a groin injury. McCaffrey’s rushing and receiving abilities are unrivaled in the NFL. When he charged into 49ers defenders in practice, he wasn’t bothered by Fred Warner’s or anyone else’s aggressive tactics.

THE BEST RECEIVER

Brandon Aiyuk could make a strong case for camp MVP honors for the second year in a row. Any title, however, is difficult to repeat (see: 2023 Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC). Deebo Samuel deserves special mention for his healthy mind, body, and spirit.

TOP DEFENDER(S)

Warner appears to be deserving of this, but phantom hits can only get you so far when you’re not allowed to tackle anyone. Instead, this award is given to the safety duo of Talanoa Hufanga and Tashaun Gipson Sr. for their multiple interceptions and phantom hits.

ALL 22 PROJECTIONS

Purdy, McCaffrey, Aiyuk, Samuel, George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk, Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford, and Colton McKivitz are the offensive starters.

Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Clelin Ferrell, Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Jaylen Graham (or Oren Burks or Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles), Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Hufanga, Gipson are the defensive starters.

TIGHTEST COMPETITION

Behind George Kittle, the 49ers have five capable tight ends to choose from, so general manager John Lynch and his staff huddled Tuesday night to decide how many to keep. Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis were drafted to take on incumbents Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner, but the veterans held their own. And Troy Fumagalli’s camp was so impressive that even he could stick.

UPCOMING LINEBACKER CROP

Warner and Greenlaw are the best linebacker tandem in the NFL. Who is the next man up if either goes down? The 49ers must make a difficult decision. Burks (knee sprain), Flannigan-Fowles, and Curtis Robinson are all veteran linebackers. Graham, Dee Winters, and Marcelino McCrary-Ball are also fountains of youth. Last year’s final cuts included six linebackers. What about in 2023?

SHALLOW UNITS

If football is won in the trenches, the 49ers can’t afford to lose any of their starters. The backup offensive line is a concern, especially with Colton McKivitz replacing Mike McGlinchy as the starting right tackle. Meanwhile, the defensive line appears to be stout on the interior, perhaps even more so given the lack of edge-rushing prowess without Bosa. Next week, veteran additions should be sought via the transaction wire.

MOST OUTSTANDING PASSES

The 49ers didn’t reveal Purdy until their second practice, and he promptly “let it rip,” Kyle Shanahan’s rallying cry. Purdy attempted a 40-yard pass down the right sideline twice. True, they were incomplete, but he overshot his targets without flinching.

MOST AMAZING FACT

The first interception by a cornerback in full-team drills came on Tuesday, when third-stringer Tre Swilling intercepted a Sam Darnold pass. However, interceptions were made by safeties, linebackers, and even defensive linemen, providing Purdy and company with plenty of learning opportunities.

THE BEST LONG BALL

Darnold’s throwing ability usually manifests itself in one or two long-range darts per practice, and, at the risk of being a prisoner of the moment, his best may have been a 50-yard connection Monday to Tay Martin, a dark-horse candidate to make the roster ahead of an injured Danny Gray.

WHAT IS FOOL’S GOLD?

Isaiah Oliver arrived in camp as a free-agent stud to fill the nickel back position. He’s struggled to make plays, particularly in preseason games, and the 49ers are considering other options, including deploying Lenoir in a job-sharing capacity with Oliver.

BUYING OR SELLING

Defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw and cornerback Ambry Thomas received a lot of praise throughout the offseason and camp for their comebacks from 2022 disappointments. They are not, however, roster locks. T.Y. McGill or Marlon Davidson could unseat Kinlaw. (Answer: No, the 49ers will not abandon Kinlaw and Lance in the same week/year.) Could Thomas fall behind Oliver, Sam Womack III, or a surprise cornerback (Answer: Thomas was not seen at the last two practices, indicating something is wrong.)?

SENSATION UNDRAFTED

Undrafted cornerback D’Shawn Jamison from Texas has enough presence to make the 53-man roster. If not, Saturday’s botched punt return may deter others from swooping in on a 5-foot-9 cornerback, allowing the 49ers to sneak him onto the practice squad.

ROOKIE STAR

Despite being the final member of the 49ers’ nine-man draft class (No. 255 of 259 overall), Graham appears to be a roster lock. He’s a lean, mean tackling machine at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds.

ROOKIE HAZE

Saturday night’s heroics may aid tight end Cameron Latu and kicker Jake Moody as they begin their rookie seasons. Latu struggled with drops and penalties throughout camp before scoring in the fourth quarter on Saturday night. Moody was nearly automatic in all camp practices before missing two field goals in the preseason opener at Las Vegas and missing his first point-after attempt at Levi’s Stadium before sneaking in the game-winning field goal on Saturday.

THE WORST INJURIES

In camp, no starters were sidelined with season-ending injuries. Greenlaw (hamstring), Jackson (hamstring), and Kittle (groin) all missed time but appear to be fully recovered. Taco Charlton, Darryl Johnson, and Daelin Hayes, as well as cornerback Anthony Averett, were all injured.