Today was to be the third and final day of Mandatory Minicamp for the 49ers, but it was recently announced that the practice and drill portions of the day would be commuted to family barbecue. Like that, the dregs of the offseason cometh; the next six weeks will simply be a waiting game, hoping the next “player suspended/arrested” isn’t one of ours. The next time we’ll have something to read is Training Camp - and a cursory google search left me empty handed in regards to dates, but we have this from Fooch:
Article 23, section 5 of the CBA states that no veteran player other than quarterbacks and injured players can be required to report to training camp earlier than 15 days prior to the first preseason game. The 49ers first preseason game is August 11, so that means veterans will likely report on Thursday, July 27. The first full squad practice would likely be the next day on Friday, July 28.
Players report July 27th, according to Matt Barrows.
Anyway, Coach Kyle Shanahan has said that LB Reuben Foster is expected to be a full participant in the upcoming camp, which might just be coachspeak at this point. Personally, the news is welcome, as his medical status has been largely up in the air. Other than that, CB Ahkello Witherspoon has been taking first team snaps - but Rashard Robinson has been held out the last two weeks, leaving Witherspoon and Keith Reaser as the first team. Reaser Witherspoon would be a mildly entertaining tandem name, by the way. Dontae Johnson has found his way onto the first team as well - when Reaser is kicked in to the nickel to cover for the also-banged-up K’Waun Williams. Hopefully the extra first team reps will have prepared Witherspoon, Reaser, and Johnson for when they do battle for the chance to start.
Finally, Chris Biderman published a pair of articles projecting his 53 man roster, with each article dedicated to one side of the ball. Defensively, his 25 players were mostly safe bets, although I took minor exception to Chris Jones over Ronald Blair. Offensively, however, he came out of the gate swinging, cutting every tight end that was on the 2016 roster. The carnage continues in the WR corps, with Bruce Ellington, Aaron Burbridge, and fan favorite DeAndre Smelter all getting the axe. Also of note, Matt Breida and Daniel Kilgore are cut. Do keep in mind, it’s an early projection that represents little more than entertainment.
To the links -
On Dumervil & his age | Inman, Mercury
Reuben Foster expected, healthy, to challenge in TC | Inman, Mercury
Staley with a glowing review of Shanahan | Maiocco, CSN Bay Area
Shanahan expects Foster to be healthy for camp | Maiocco, CSN Bay Area
Short feature on 49ers’ first female coaching intern | Maiocco, CSN Bay Area
Awesome puff piece on Shanahan | Jones, KNBR
Hoyer to hold his own Camp Alex before TC | Barrows, Sac Bee
Minicamp notes | Barrows, Sac Bee
Shanahan can’t predict the roster yet | Barrows, Sac Bee
Retention will be key over summer hiatus | Wagoner, ESPN
Dumervil to prove he’s not too old | Wagoner, ESPN
Garçon has third lowest drop rate since 2015 | Lowder, Ninerswire
Offensive post-minicamp 53 man roster projections | Biderman, Ninerswire
Defensive post-minicamp 53 man roster projections | Biderman, Ninerswire