Maiocco’s 49ers camp observations: Purdy’s bumpy practice vs. Raiders originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
HENDERSON, Nev. – The 49ers offense was overshadowed by an opportunistic Las Vegas Raiders defense on the practice field Friday.
Sound the alarm.
Or not.
The two days of joint practices gave 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy an action-packed game. He took 68 snaps of 11-on-11 work in the two days of practice against the Raiders.
Purdy was on the field Friday for 39 teamwork, as well as six 7-on-7 runs.
And while things didn’t go smoothly, no rational person could conclude that the 49ers are suddenly in trouble.
Left tackle Trent Williams, for example, isn’t worried.
“I just don’t,” Williams said. “I have faith in Coach (Kyle Shanahan). I have faith in Brock. It’s preseason. The man has just returned from six months of rehab. I certainly don’t put much into a practice rep or a practice interception.
Purdy was intercepted once during 11-on-11 work while completing 15 of 26 passes. He had two more pass attempts that were nearly pecked. And he threw two more interceptions in a 7-on-7 drill where there is no pass rush.
In addition to interceptions that could have been bad throws, bad decisions, or a receiver on the wrong track, Purdy also showed plenty of flashes to indicate he was on the right track.
After Purdy threw a pass that intercepted Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane, he completed passes of 20 yards or more to rookie tight end Brayden Willis and receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
Purdy will not play on Sunday as the 49ers open the preseason against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
Trey Lance and Sam Darnold are expected to split the action as they compete for the backup job.
Lance took just five practice shots and completed one of two pass attempts on Friday, while Darnold went 11-on-11 four times and passed 3-for-3.
Both Lance and Darnold were intercepted during a 7-on-7 red zone period.
Fast ramps
– Practice began with a scare on Friday as Raiders star receiver Davante Adams went down with an apparent right leg injury. Adams collided with 49ers linebacker Oren Burks while running an oblique pattern and going after the Jimmy Garoppolo pass.
The Raiders had no problem with the game. Coach Josh McDaniels labeled it incidental contact.
‘I did not see anything. I don’t think it was crazy serious,” McDaniels told the media. “It was just kind of a bang-bang game — totally clean on both sides.”
— The two training days gave both teams a lot of good work on the field and few extracurricular activities.
But Friday’s practice ended with a little more emotion with some shoving, shoving and talking. After facing the same opponent in the desert heat for two days, Aiyuk said it was no big deal.
“You expect that,” Aiyuk said. “It was hot there.”
RELATED: What Purdy Learned From Garoppolo Last Season
– The 49ers signed defensive lineman Breeland Speaks to a one-year contract and placed cornerback Anthony Averett on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury.
Speaks entered the NFL in 2018 as a second round pick from the Kansas City Chiefs. He has seen time with the Raiders, Cowboys, Giants and Bills. He last played for the USFL’s Michigan Panthers in 2022.
– On Thursday, Williams Raiders neutralized Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby in one-on-one pass-rush drills. On Friday, Williams was restrained. Crosby definitely got the best of Colton McKivitz, the team’s right tackle.
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