Training camp report: Kaepernick can’t miss, Jenkins leaves practice early with apparent leg injury

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at Tuesday morning’s padded practice.

THE GOOD

1. Colin Kaepernick – All of his passes have been on the money this training camp, especially the deep ones. This morning, Kaepernick was on fire in 11-on-11 drills against the first-team defense. First, he hit Anquan Boldin on a post route for a 20-yard gain. Next, Kaepernick threaded the needle between two defenders to hit Chad Hall over the middle. Next, Kaepernck hit Hall on a deep corner route for a 30-yard gain. Next, Kaepernick hit Bruce Miller deep for a 20-yard gain. Here were Kaepernick’s three final throws of the day – 40-yard completion to Anquan Boldin, 20-yard completion to Chad Hall, 50-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis.

2. Anquan Boldin – Since so many 49ers wide receivers are injured, the quarterbacks threw it to Boldin practically every other pass play. He caught 10 passes for 135 yards. None of the 49er cornerbacks could stop him.

3. Ray McDonald – If he had been pacing himself earlier in camp, he didn’t pace himself today. During team drills, McDonald constantly ripped into the backfield and forced Kaepernick to scramble out of the pocket. I’ve never seen McDonald play so well in practice.

4. Vance McDonald – He played mostly with the second-team offense and caught four passes for 40 yards. He also lined up in the backfield next to the quarterback in the pistol formation quite often, like Delanie Walker did last season. McDonald committed one false start penalty in the backfield.

5. Aldon Smith – He beat Joe Staley one-on-one twice and sacked Kaepernick once. This was the hardest Smith has practiced this training camp. Staley was no match for him in pass protection.

6. Chad Hall – He played with the first-team offense and caught five passes for 70 yards. I would be shocked if Hall didn’t make the team.

7. Marlon Moore – He beat Tarell Brown in one-on-one drills. Brown pressed Moore, Moore beat the press and beat Brown on a quick slant route. Later, Moore caught four passes for 40 yards in team drills and once again made the catch of the day. He ran a post route and Tolzien threw it a bit high. Moore lunged out for the pass and caught it and took a hit from Craig Dahl. Both players fell to the ground, but Moore hung onto the pass.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD

1. C.J. Spillman – Today was his turn to start at free safety and he struggled. He gave up deep pass after deep pass, and at the end of practice it seemed like Kaepernick was picking on him by continuously throwing his direction.

2. Daniel Kilgore – Jonathan Goodwin did not attend practice, so Daniel Kilgore was the starting center. He could not keep Ian Williams and Ray McDonald out of the backfield, and as a result, the quarterbacks had to scramble out of the pocket time after time.

3. A.J. Jenkins – He appeared to injure his right hamstring during individual drills. He sat out team drills.

4. NaVorro Bowman – He did not suit up for practice. Vic Fangio said he’s working through something minor. The 49ers cannot afford to lose either Bowman or Patrick Willis for any regular season games.

5. Kyle Williams – He did not practice due to his hamstring injury.

6. Ricardo Lockette – He practiced, but he could only move at half-speed. He seemed bothered by a hip injury.

7. Quinton Patton – He practiced, but he wore the blue non-contact jersey as he’s been wearing all of training camp.

8. Kassim Osgood – Like Jenkins, Osgood appeared to tweak something in his lower body during individual drills and sat out team drills. The 49ers currently have seven nicked up wide receivers – Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, Williams, Jenkins, Lockette, Patton and Osgood.

Comments are closed.