49ers’ rookie Black bursts past Chargers, McCaffrey stays out as precaution
The Mercury News · Cam Inman · 2026-08-18T21:04:21+00:00 · nguồn gốc
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Kaelon Black’s unmistakable burst was back in the 49ers’ offense Tuesday, from catching a Brock Purdy pass on the first snap to speeding down the left sideline on his first carry against the host Chargers in a joint practice.
Not that the 49ers urgently need Black, a rookie running back.
Three weeks remain until the 49ers’ regular season begins in Australia, and Christian McCaffrey’s availability is not a glaring concern, even though he’s missed the past week with undisclosed tightness and everyone recalls his 2024 Achilles issues.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey would have participated if this was a regular-season practice.
“If it wasn’t Christian, and we were in a game week, he would play today,” Shanahan said. “It’s just some tightness. He’d get sensitive if I said where.”
Shanahan added that it would be wrong to accuse the 10th-year running back of holding out as part of a contract dispute.
McCaffrey attended practice, then posed for pictures afterward with his pregnant wife, their year-old daughter, his parents, and his older brother, Max, the Chargers’ running backs coach.
As for Black, his rookie training camp paused the past 2 ½ weeks because of an adductor injury.
“You can tell there’s a different level of intensity when he touches the ball,” Purdy said. “I’m excited to see what he does in live action, too, with breaking tackles and hitting the gaps. From the jump, KB came out running pretty hard so it was exciting to see him back.”
Black is expected to debut in a 49ers’ jersey (No. 26) in Thursday night’s preseason game against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
“It’s always tough going against another team on your first day back, but he looked healthy and had some juice today and hopefully he looks the same on tape,” Shanahan said.
STRIBLING SHINES
Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling’s outstanding camp was best on display in the red zone as he made contested catches for touchdowns on passes from Purdy and Mac Jones.
“It was smooth. I enjoyed it,” said Stribling, who made two more receptions before one was broken up at the goal line by Rodney Shelley.
“Those (touchdowns) were two good plays. He had a couple of rough ones, too. So I’ll hold my opinion until I really see the tape,” Shanahan said. “But he’s competing every day and getting better.”
PUNCH-OUT WARNER
It shouldn’t have been a surprise that Fred Warner punched a ball loose, seeing how he’s forced a franchise-record 17 fumbles (plus one in 12 playoff games).
“That’s my emphasis every single play, honestly. Does every play have a punch-out (opportunity)? Not necessaritly but I’m going to try to find it where I can,” Warner said. “Over the years I try to practice it so much it’s not a thought in my mind and it’s just second nature.
“It’s beyond the point of me trying to get punchouts. It’s how can I be infectious to the team and have it on their minds.”
EVANS’ QUAD INJURY
Wide receiver Mike Evans watched the end of practice after aggravating a quadriceps issue which kept him out last week. “Some tightness, so we were being smart taking him out. I don’t think it’s anything worse,” Shanahan said. “It’s nothing I’m worried about right now.”
CONCUSSION ISSUES
Five 49ers have sustained concussions this camp: offensive linemen Dominick Puni, Brett Toth, and Carver Willis; and defensive linemen C.J. West and Titus Leo, the latter of whom got waived Tuesday. All others remain sidelined except Willis, who got first-team reps at left guard while Rob Jones filled in for Puni at right guard.
Shanahan, whose concussion from a July 14 car crash hindered him at the start of camp, said players’ Guardian-cap cushions can only do so much. “My favorite thing about those is quarterbacks don’t break their hands as much on the top of (helmets),” Shanahan said. “Regardless of what you’re wearing, if you get hit the right way, it’s not enough. I know it does help.”
INJURY UPDATES
— Chargers center Tyler Biadasz got carted off with a leg injury after colliding with Sebastian Valdez on a first-series play.
— Nick Bosa, seen Sunday running on the side, is progressing well. His surgically repaired right knee has“a lot less irritation, soreness, tendinitis than last week,” Shanahan said. “It’s going in the right direction. Same as Christian.”
— Defensive end Mykel Williams (ACL) is close to coming off the Physically Unable to Perform list. “Week 1 would be a long shot but we haven’t ruled it out,” Shanahan said.
— Shanahan did not give a timeline on when tight end George Kittle (Achilles) might get cleared to practice off PUP. “George isn’t a big ‘put a date on it’ and I’m not going to be that dude either,” Shanahan said. “You guys can tell how he’s talking and how he looks, I agree that it’s sooner than later.”
— Wide receiver Christian Kirk hasn’t practiced since a calf strain in camp’s first practice. “We love the guy but hopefully he can have some better luck so he get some reps out here,” Shanahan said.
NO FIGHTS
No fights erupted in the 1 1/2-hour of 49ers-vs.-Chargers action, and Shanahan traced that to a calm start, unlike last Tuesday’s joint practice with the visiting Titans, who are coached by former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
What was it about Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers? “Their head coach had more discipline than Tennessee’s. No, I’m just joking,” Shanahan said in deadpan fashion.
PURDY FAN CLUB
Harbaugh said before practice he hoped to meet Purdy, but that had yet to happen by the end of Tuesday’s session. Harbaugh’s admiration for Purdy traces to “how good he is. His timing, his decision-making, his accuracy. I just like how cool he is, how cool he plays, and all that,” Harbaugh said. “Kind of the same way I think of Kyle, the cool stuff he puts on tape. I love his demeanor. I love the toughness of his teams. I love that they’re really good at football. Great to be around them.”
DEFENSIVE BACKS TORCHED
The 49ers’ secondary repeatedly got victimized by the long ball, with Deommodore Lenoir and Ephesians Prysock each giving up at least two deep completions.