SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- With a handful of players recovering and/or returning from injuries, the San Francisco 49ers seemingly had a number of options for designations such as the physically unable to perform list. But it speaks to where most of those players are in their recovery that the 49ers had just one player officially unavailable for practice on training camp's first day.
That would be safety Jaquiski Tartt, who landed on the active non-football injury list on Sunday morning because of a pulled leg muscle. Coach Chip Kelly indicated that Tartt's injury isn't serious and he's eligible to return to practice at any time.
"I think he just tweaked something, tweaked a muscle and it should just be, from my understanding in talking to Quiski, just a couple days," Kelly said. "So, if he’s not full-go today, he has to go on that. So, he’s not full today, but I don’t envision it being any type of long-term thing.”
Among other 49ers working their way back from injury, cornerback Will Redmond (knee), safety L.J. McCray (knee) and defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey (knee) haven't been able to go at full speed just yet but they're working back into the mix to varying degrees. Of that trio, only Dorsey didn't take any reps in seven-on-seven or team drills. Dorsey spent time on a side field going through some rehabilitation drills while the team practiced.
"As the next couple days approach, we’ll start to piece meal it in with them, just to be smart," Kelly said. "It doesn’t help anybody that, hey, we threw them in full speed and they did a great job on July 31st and then pulled something and now they’re out for two weeks. So, they’re going to go. They’ll be in drills and then we’ll be cautious as it goes."
A few more notes and tidbits from Sunday's practice:
Understandably, much was made of the arrival of offensive tackle Anthony Davis and guard Joshua Garnett over the past couple of days. But, true to his word, Kelly isn't simply handing either of them a starting job. Davis and Garnett worked with the third team offense on the right side in Sunday's practice.
With Garnett and Davis hoping to work their way up the depth chart, the 49ers' offensive line went with Joe Staley at left tackle, Zane Beadles at left guard, Daniel Kilgore at center, Andrew Tiller at right guard and Trent Brown at right tackle in the first practice.
With nose tackle Ian Williams (ankle) out for the season, the 49ers have multiple options to step in for him, including Dorsey when he gets back to full strength. But it was Mike Purcell who got the bulk of the work in the middle on Sunday. Kelly indicated that competition would only heat up as the pads come on and camp continues.
"We were impressed with what Mike did in the spring time," Kelly said. "To go along, we had Quinton Dial in there, now we’re getting Dors back, so we feel like we have three or four guys that can help ease the pain of losing someone as talented as Ian."
Elsewhere on the defense, Michael Wilhoite got the first crack at lining up next to NaVorro Bowman at inside linebacker. ... As expected, Tramaine Brock and Jimmie Ward worked at the two outside cornerback spots with Ward sliding into the slot in nickel packages and Keith Reaser stepping in for him on the outside. ... Reaser intercepted Colin Kaepernick on a quick out during seven-on-seven drills. ... Despite his forthcoming four-game suspension, outside linebacker Aaron Lynch got plenty of work with the first team. He said he's going to prepare like he's going to be playing in Week 1 and try to be a good teammate to help the other edge rushers prepare for the season.
The 49ers have their second practice Monday morning at 10:25 a.m. PT. They'll do it again on Tuesday when they can put the pads on for the first time.