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Katie Sowers returned home. Jeff Wilson Jr. had a freak injury, while John Lynch and Jimmy Garoppolo both had media availability on Wednesday. What will Thursday bring us?
Former 49ers assistant coach Katie Sowers is returning to an NFL practice field with a boost from a 49ers legend.
Sowers announced Wednesday on social media that she will have another opportunity to continue her coaching career through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The program is designed to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches. All 32 NFL clubs participate each year. Specific aspects of the program — including hiring, compensation and coaching duties — are administered on a club-by-club basis.
“I want to get it done, personally,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said on Tuesday. “I kind of feel like I’d say the same about him as I did about Kittle when we were talking about it. I just see that kind of as a matter of time.
“I know he’s not going into his free agent year or anything like that, so that’s why it’s not always on my mind. But Fred’s a guy that I plan on being here forever and who has earned that. I’d be surprised if that doesn’t start sooner than later.”
Jimmy Garoppolo considered drastic options after 49ers’ NFL Draft trade
Jimmy Garoppolo has thought about requesting a trade. He considered virtually every option since the 49ers traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft and then selected quarterback Trey Lance. But for now, Garoppolo is still focused on being a 49er, and is taking part in optional organized team activities.
“When it initially happened, there’s a million emotions that go on throughout your head and you think of all the possible scenarios and things like that,” he told reporters, when asked about a potential trade.
“But at the end of the day, I want to play football. I want to go out there and win games. That’s what I do. And so it wasn’t anything too crazy. It took a little while to process everything. But once I did, it was just, ‘Go out there and ball.’ You got to go out and attack it. The NFL is a crazy business. Things happen, but you have to attack it day by day. And make the best of it.”
Prior to that report, it was widely accepted that Sherman was looking elsewhere. He made several comments, all amicable, to that effect following the end of last year’s injury-riddled season.
“It’s been made pretty clear (I won’t be back),” Sherman told the Sacramento Bee in February. “It was a good conversation, nothing crazy. Just a good conversation about where they are and where I am and their plans. We were both very positive and as good as you can be in a situation like this.”
Normally, an injury to a top runner would send a team scrambling to add a tailback just so they can get through offseason practices. The 49ers, however, are standing pat for now largely because of a pick they made in the sixth round.
After signing veteran Wayne Gallman in free agency, they drafted Ohio State’s Trey Sermon in the third round. The team entered the sixth round — and their final pick in 2021 — intending to take a linebacker. But when Louisiana’s Elijah Mitchell was still available, they swiped him instead. The fleet-footed Mitchell has stood out in two practices open to reporters this month, including as a pass catcher.
“I’m glad he was there,” Lynch said. “Because this helps insulate us there.”
Lynch said the 49ers are not currently looking to add a running back.