Dude, we just got another look at the 49ers camp, and while some guys are absolutely tearing it up, the offensive line situation, especially around Carver Willis, is looking straight up shaky. Willis got absolutely demolished in 1-on-1s today, not just once, but by West and Bryson Eason, and then again by Sebastian Valdez. Talk about a gut punch. The guy looks super shaky out there, and while he was better in 11-on-11s, the report still says “not good.” That’s a huge problem for any line trying to protect their QB, and it’s a big question mark heading into their preseason finale.
Stribling’s Comeback and CMC’s Clean Bill of Health
Amidst the O-line chaos, some guys are making their presence felt in a huge way. Wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling is making a serious bid for Camp MVP, showing impressive stuff not just today, but all camp long. Earlier, he lost a 1-on-1 matchup against Jack Jones when a deep pass got broken up. But after some direct coaching from Kyle Shanahan, Stribling flipped a switch, going on to dominate practice even with only one healthy shoulder. That kind of resilience and response? That’s what you want to see. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa is also making a strong play for Camp MVP, consistently putting in impressive work. And Christian McCaffrey? He practiced for the second day straight and looked perfectly healthy. The man caught three passes and carried the ball a ton, proving what he said all along: he wasn’t injured; the team just agreed to let him skip two weeks of camp. Clearly, Purdy and linebacker Fred Warner are still the top dogs, but these other guys are making noise.
Emerging Talent and Lingering Distractions
It wasn’t just Stribling shining. James Thompson II was everywhere, racking up a handful of run stops and looking seriously impressive in 1-on-1s. On offense, Luke Farrell grabbed two touchdown passes during the red zone period, with Brock Purdy absolutely dotting it up and looking phenomenal. But it wasn’t all sunshine and touchdowns. Jake Tonges was practically blanketed on every rep today, with at least three balls intended for him ending in pass break-ups. He did manage to come down with one, though. Off the field, coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the Jed York situation, calling it “a very tough situation” and “very, very personal.” He said the organization’s views moving forward are “the same as usual,” and he doesn’t need “much of a message to the guys,” calling it “irrelevant.” Sounds like the team is trying to block out any external noise.
The 49ers roll into their preseason finale against the Raiders, and you know what that means: it’s the last chance for a lot of these guys on the bubble to prove they belong. Shanahan himself said they’re not prioritizing the preseason over Week 1, but for some players, this is their Week 1. They gotta go out there and show out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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