Kurtis Rourke’s dazzling 49ers debut could open door to a Mac Jones trade (paywall)
“Still, Rourke’s promise, coupled with Jones’ expiring contract, could make the 49ers more motivated to deal Jones during the season than they were in the offseason.
Jones is in the final year of his contract, and the 49ers could net a high-end 2027 draft pick for a player who is almost certain to sign elsewhere in free agency in March.
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Why would another team suddenly pony up for Jones during the season after declining to do so in the offseason? Quarterback injuries are inevitable, and the 49ers could become the logical call for a team desperate to stay afloat without its starter…Rourke has given the 49ers something they didn’t have in April: reason to believe they can trade one really good quarterback and still have another behind Purdy.”
Brock Purdy on 49ers-Chargers joint practice: ‘Don’t think it was our best day’ (paywall)
“The session ended as most do, with a two-minute drill, where Purdy and company marched to the red zone but no farther. Completions to Deebo Samuel, Jordan Watkins and De’Zhaun Stribling set up the 49ers for four shots at the end zone. Purdy tried Samuel at the back pylon, Robinson and then Stribling near the front pylon, followed by a fourth-down jump ball to Watkins in a crowd of powder blue Chargers jerseys. Watkins was hit hard by Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley and appeared a bit shaken up as he labored to the sideline.”
49ers dismiss report of Christian McCaffrey ‘hold-in,’ as Kaelon Black impresses vs. Chargers (paywall)
“If we were in a game week, I think he would have (practiced) today,” he said.
McCaffrey was observed working out on the Chargers’ practice field before the scrimmage began. He will certainly be held out of Thursday’s preseason game in Los Angeles. The team’s next practice after that is Saturday.
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With McCaffrey watching from the sideline, the 49ers’ top runner Tuesday was Black, who’d missed the previous two weeks with an adductor (inner thigh) injury. The third-round pick certainly didn’t look rusty, taking an early carry to the left for 50 yards and showing violence and strength on several ensuing runs. Black also had a catch at the goal line in a red zone drill.
Kyle Shanahan shares encouraging update on Christian McCaffrey’s 49ers return
“Instead, Shanahan said, the 49ers simply are being cautious with McCaffrey, 30, who had a league-high 413 touches last season.”
49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black shines in joint practice vs. Chargers
“Veteran wide receiver Mike Evans was removed from practice and was seen with an ice wrap around his left quad. He missed 12 days earlier in training camp with a quad strain.
“They just said he had some tightness, so we were being smart, taking him out,” Shanahan said. “I don’t think it was anything worse. It’s nothing that I’m worried about right now.”
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Purdy and Evans hooked up on a 20-yard pass play as one of the offense’s highlights. Evans worked free against Chargers cornerback M.J. Mickens. Those two teamed up for another intermediate pass completion over the middle.”
The 49ers are bringing back DT Evan Anderson; Kaelon Black returns to practice
“Anderson is a familiar face after playing a little more than 250 snaps for the 49ers as an undrafted rookie in 2024. He should be able to catch on pretty quickly and serve as a preseason body until Halton can return.”
