On Tuesday afternoon, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared updates on player injuries following OTA practice. Several players were absent, but Shanahan emphasized that these practices are voluntary and not a cause for concern.
Edge rusher Nick Bosa attended, but Drake Jackson was unable to practice due to health reasons, and defensive tackle Maliek Collins will miss another week as he attends his children’s graduation.
Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk were also not present. When asked if the additional reps would benefit a player like Ricky Pearsall, Shanahan stated, “I always think the more reps you get, the more experience you gain, and the more different situations you face. If you’re talented and have the right mindset, you can only improve. However, it can be challenging to simulate game speed in practice. Still, more reps are always beneficial for the right player.”
Regarding Jennings’s status, Shanahan remarked, “It’s voluntary, so there is no update yet,” and he made a general statement about all absent players.
George Kittle was at practice but not in uniform. Shanahan also mentioned that Christian McCaffrey had not attended practice that week, without specifying a reason. He clarified, “I’m not sure about the situation with those guys. I’m not categorizing them all for the same reason. It’s voluntary. We’ll reassess when attendance becomes mandatory.”
Addressing a similar question later, Shanahan reiterated, “I wish all the players were here, but it’s part of the business. I try to respect the business aspect and look forward to focusing on football.”
Center Jake Brendel has knee arthritis but can manage it, though they will be cautious with him to ensure it doesn’t affect his participation in training camp.
