SANTA CLARA — Running back Isaac Guerendo and fullback Kyle Juszczyk each left Saturday’s practice after sustaining injuries, with no preliminary word from the 49ers on the severity of either.
Guerendo, the 49ers’ top backup to Christian McCaffrey, had his right shoulder tested by the 49ers’ medical staff after exiting a kick-return drill. He showed good range of motion but did not return for full-team drills in what’s been an otherwise active camp without missing any days.
Juszczyk got injured in a one-on-one drill while being pursued on a 20-yard pass route by linebacker Dee Winters. Juszczyk stayed on the sideline as he peeled off his cleat and sock for inspection of his lower right leg and heel.
General manager John Lynch came over to check on Juszczyk and walked with him and trainers to the weight room. McCaffrey and George Kittle also caught up to Juszczyk to inquire about his health, and Juszczyk exchanged a seemingly “all-OK” hug with Kittle.
Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said Guerendo has been in the mix for return duties and he was unsure of how he got hurt.
The 49ers’ running back corps had its depth severely tested a year ago, starting with McCaffrey’s absence the first two months because of Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey has appeared fully fit this camp on a limited workload, with him resting from Sunday and Thursday practices this past week.
Rookie Jordan James (knee) has been out since Tuesday, prompting Thursday’s signing of veteran rusher and returner Ameer Abdullah. The 49ers’ only other running backs are Patrick Taylor Jr. and undrafted rookie Corey Kiner.
WILLIAMS’ FIRST CAMP
Defensive lineman Mykel Williams is loving his first training camp, and the 49ers are loving what they’re seeing out of their top draft pick. Said Williams: “I love it. Football is my job now. It’s something you dream of since you were 10 years old or as a kid the first time you pick up a ball.”
The 49ers, as they vowed upon drafting him No. 11 overall, are using WIlliams both as a first-team defensive end who can slide inside on obvious passing downs. “There’s no discomfort in it,” said Williams, adding that “things happen faster in the middle than they do on the edge, so you have to speed up your hands and your feet.”
Williams confirmed that prior to training camp, he asked to borrow left tackle Trent Williams’ private jet for a summer getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. “My pops told me a while ago: ‘Closed mouth don’t get fed.’ I had to take it upon myself,” Mykel Williams said. Both players did spend time together in Cabo but they left on different days — on different planes.
HEALTH UPDATES
Kept out of Saturday’s session, presumably to rest, were defensive end Nick Bosa, right tackle Colton McKivitz and defensive tackle Kevin Givens. Cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. was excused for personal reasons.
Still out of practice were wide receivers Jauan Jennings (calf) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring), and cornerbacks Deommodore Lenoir (hip) and Renardo Green (hamstring). Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and offensive lineman Andre Dillard did individual conditioning as they appear close to coming off the Physically Unable to Perform list.
PERFECT PURDY
Brock Purdy completed all nine of his passes in the 11-on-11 session, including two 20-yard completions over the middle to a high-pointing Ricky Pearsall. Purdy wore a bandage on the outside of his lower right leg but did not appear hindered.
Third-string reps were split by Tanner Mordecai and Carter Bradley, the latter of whom got intercepted by Siran Neal.
KICKER COMPETITION
The kicking competition between Jake Moody and Greg Joseph rolled on Saturday, with Moody accounting for the day’s lone miss on a 48-yard attempt. After they rotated through their four kicks apiece, they worked on a side field on both field-goal attempts and directional kickoffs.
“There’s not a ton of separation there. Both rebounded from days they could have kicked better,” Boyer said. “They kicked pretty solid today. It’s a matter of who’s going to execute when the game comes.”
C.J. COMPARES TO D.J.
Rookie defensive tackle C.J. West said he’s “heard a couple of times through the wind” that he compares to NFL veteran D.J. Jones, who got his start with the 49ers and will return this coming week with the Denver Broncos for a Thursday joint practice and Saturday preseason opener. “I actually watched a lot of tape on him back in college,” West said. “… When in college, you look to see who you fit like in the NFL and what role you may play. Watching games, I’d say, ‘Man, I look a lot like that guy — same frame, same height, arm length and playing style.’ … It’d be awesome to have a chat with him but my main focus is to just get better in practice.”
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HOLDER QUESTIONS
Ever wonder why backup quarterbacks got replaced by punters as a holder for the placekicker, and how important that holder-kicker relationship is for confidence?
“That started quite awhile ago because the time for backups quarterbacks to work with specialists would be before or after, when we can work together whole time as a specialist group,” Boyer said.
The 49ers’ special teams overhaul included adding long snapper Jon Weeks and punter Thomas Morstead, a pair of 39-year-old veterans. “The snapper and holder are extremely important. That whole operation is huge to a kicker’s success,” Boyer added. “You see that over time with people who work together for a while. You see that right away with people who haven’t. There’s time to get adjusted. The more you work together and hang out and like each other and especially work together, that’s huge, for sure.”
