49ers coach Kyle Shanahan 'inching' forward in his concussion recovery

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Of all the vast injuries to monitor at 49ers training camp, one very important recovery is being scrutinized each practice, albeit in the literal background.

That would be coach Kyle Shanahan’s apparently positive recovery from a concussion he sustained in his July 14 car crash.

“He’s been around,” backup quarterback Mac Jones said after Thursday’s practice. “He’s doing a good job recovering; I don’t know, you’d have to ask him how he feels overall. But I feel he’s doing normal Kyle stuff.”

Normal in the sense that Shanahan has attentively watched every practice, typically doing so about 30 yards behind the defense. General manager John Lynch usually is at his side, with frequent visits by defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and the occasional chat with a player or visitor, including former 49ers coach Steve Mariucci during Saturday’s practice warmups.

With a practice script in hand, Shanahan has crept closer to some offensive drills. “He’s inching toward us,” Jones quipped.

That gradual progression amid a player-like concussion protocol is what Shanahan aimed to achieve. Last week, he summoned beat writers into his office, not only to take responsibility for that two-car collision in Palo Alto but also to explain his concussion’s debilitating symptoms, including fatigue, stress, an aversion to noise and emotional swings.

Shanahan clearly wasn’t ready to hold a press conference last week, and he’s not scheduled for any through two weeks into camp. But coaches and players are liking what they’re seeing and hearing, including his first team meeting last Saturday and a post-practice talk Monday.

Shanahan’s No. 1 team rule remains “to protect the team,” so it made sense his first team address came in the aftermath of a fight in last Friday’s first padded practice. “He got called in,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “His first line of duty to make sure we weren’t hurting each other and we were practicing smart and helping each other out.”

One day, Shanahan might be hanging out with Fred Warner as linebackers warm up. Another day, the 10th-year coach might be mingling with George Kittle during a special-teams period.

Chris Foerster, the 49ers’ offensive line coach who has taken on some supervisor duties, noted that Shanahan is still in some meetings and reviewing practice film, as usual. “It’s the same guy,” Foerster said. “What there probably is, and I can’t speak for him, there’s a little bit more recovery.”

The 49ers’ first preseason game is next Thursday at home against the Tennessee Titans, preceded two days earlier with joint practices against coach Robert Saleh’s squad. In a month, Shanahan is expected to fly with the 49ers to Australia and acclimate there a week before the season opener against the Rams in Melbourne on Sept. 10 (a day later locally).

“I think everything will be fine and great in the long run. But nothing has been too different,” Jones said. “This organization is run very smoothly, whether Kyle is at the top or someone else. He set it up that way.

“He’s been out there and he’s been talking to us. I’m hopeful he can recover all the way. For us, it’s just keep battling every day. It’s camp. We’re getting to the middle part, and we’ll get to the exciting parts of playing in games.”

Stribling returns

Top draft pick De’Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) returned from a three-practice hiatus and participated in receiver warmups, then spent nearly an hour running on the side. A week into camp, teammates are highly impressed with his potential.

“I call him The Flyin’ Hawaiian because he’s so fast,” Jones said of the Kapolei, Hawaii native. “Some guys can be really quick but they are not as strong. He can do both. I don’t have a comp for him yet but he’ll be a really good player.”

Jones and Brock Purdy worked with Stribling and other receivers in Nashville prior to camp. “The way he got to the ball when it’s in the air was really impressive,” Jones added. “He has a second gear when the ball is in the air. Some guys are fast but when the ball goes up and your eyes go up, you slow down; but he doesn’t do that.”

Purdy’s passing

Brock Purdy connected on deep passes to Malik Turner (against Ji’Ayir Brown) and KhaDarel Hodge (against Darrell Luter). Purdy was 13 of 18 in full-team drills, and he continues to impress Morris both in terms of his ability to layer passes over defenders but also with leadership.

“The ‘Layer King’ has some really intensive intensity. I like that about him,” Morris said. “It’s really fun for me to go in the back of the offense and hear him operate. You listen to him and how he operates pro manner, how his communication is with coaches.

“Today he was fired up, which is cool and competitive. I love that. When he does those things, it makes the team go.”

Bosa still out

Defensive end Nick Bosa missed a second straight practice because of unspecified soreness. He otherwise had participated in defensive line drills, and Morris isn’t worried that Bosa has yet to take part in 11-on-11 action.

“He’s played a lot of football and has a lot of bank reps,” Morris said. “He’s very smart, very unique, and he’s been able to get mental reps. We will see his activity increase and get his body right. I feel really good about where he’s going to be. He’s a special player.”

Injury report

Guard Nick Zaeklj (elbow) was added to the injury list while Stribling, Greenlaw and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa returned in limited fashion.

Still out are defensive linemen Bosa and Keion White (adductor); wide receivers Mike Evans (quadriceps), Christian Kirk (calf), and Jacob Cowing (hip); offensive linemen Brett Toth (concussion), Carver Willis (concussion) and Vederian Lowe (ankle); fullback Kyle Juszczyk (finger fracture); running backs Jordan James (rib) and Kelon Black (adductor); and safety Malik Mustapha (hamstring).

Dwight Clark day

The 49ers’ annual “Dwight Clark Day” that pays homage to the late franchise icon was moved up a day on the calendar from the usual “8/7” mark because Friday is a closed-door walk-through practice. Shanahan, Lynch and other staff wore commemorative T-shirts, and former 49ers tight end Brent Jones spoke to fans about Clark’s legacy.

Clark, who made “The Catch” for the 1981 team that launched a dynasty, passed away in 2018 after battling ALS. After practice, 10 players participated in the “Ice Bucket Challenge” in the fight against ALS.

Extra points

Cornerback Jack Jones intercepted a Jones pass intended for Jordan Watkins near the boundary. … Defensive tackle Alfred Collins didn’t detail his recovery from shoulder surgery and said that his injury was part of the “knicks and knacks” from his rookie year. “I knew the offseason would be huge. I had to make sure my body was in the best shape for these 18 (regular-season weeks),” Collins said. … Rob Jones served as the first-string right guard for a second straight day, with Connor Colby on the second unit. … Brown forced a fumble while other big hits were delivered on defense by Upton Stout, Grayson Halton and Nick Martin, the latter of whom sideswiped Christian McCaffrey to the ground on a run. Morris said of Halton: “I see a young man who’s really feisty. He was off the field a couple days so he was really fired up, sometimes too fired up.”