49ers move into game week with situational focus

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers are officially one week into training camp, which means they are officially into a game week. Well, sort of.

Unlike a normal game week, the Niners won't spend most of this week preparing for the next opponent or looking back at the next week, but as training camp rolls on, they will get a chance start honing in on the next step.

As with most teams, the 49ers' first week of installation had a bigger focus, mainly catching players up and giving them a reminder on what they learned in the spring as well as giving them a chance to adapt to the tempo of coach Chip Kelly's practices.

Now, the attention will turn to the next phase, which means more work on down and distance situations, the red zone and other specific facets of the game.

“We still have to do a lot of just game situations," Kelly said. "And, as you see us now, we’re going into more calling periods. So, we’re on the sidelines, we’re actually playing a game. Not a game, an entire game, but for a series. We’ve been down in the red zone a few times. We’ve had a couple two-minute situations so far, but we’ll continue to. Really, the situational awareness is what you’re trying to get as you start to get into week two, because a week from today we’re actually playing a game. So, getting those guys adjusted to what it’s like, how to deal with different scenarios that will come up during the game, whether it be red zone, whether it be coming out, whether it be two-minute situations, whether it be four-minute situations at the end of the game when you’re trying to work the clock. So, really a lot more situational work as we get going this week.”

The 49ers will also get a chance to see some unfamiliar faces in unfamiliar colors later on this week as the Houston Texans will practice with the team on Friday before Sunday's 7 p.m. ET kickoff between the teams at Levi's Stadium.

-- After a relatively short practice Saturday, the Niners kicked it up a little bit Sunday with a practice spanning a little more than two hours. They also were back in pads after going with shells Saturday. That's to be expected with a players day off scheduled for Monday. From there, the Niners will have normal practice time on Tuesday and then a practice with fans included on Wednesday at Kezar Stadium.

-- Some good moments for quarterback Blaine Gabbert in Sunday's practice as he efficiently led a couple of drives, including a scoring drive in team drills. He seemed to have good rhythm with receiver DiAndre Campbell as the pair connected multiple times. Things weren't as smooth for Colin Kaepernick, who struggled on third-down situational work. During seven-on-seven, Kaepernick did take a deep shot down the middle to receiver Devon Cajuste and it was a well thrown ball, but cornerback Dontae Johnson made a late break to knock it away from Cajuste.

-- Minor bumps for the 49ers prized former Oregon defensive linemen as DeForest Buckner (arm) and Arik Armstead (shoulder) didn't finish practice. Neither injury appeared serious, though the Niners are wise to take proper precautions.

-- Buckner has been getting a lot of work with the first-team defense of late and looks like he's trying to stake an early claim to a starting job. That surely doesn't come as a surprise after the team drafted him seventh overall. Although he warns not to read too much into who is practicing where and when, Kelly has been impressed with how Buckner has grown from the time the two were together at Oregon.

"He’s picked up things very quickly," Kelly said. "There’s a lot of things terminology-wise that jives with what we did when we were at Oregon with DeForest. But, who’s running with what group right now really isn’t a big deal.

“He’s grown. That’s the biggest thing. When we first got him, he actually lined up when we first got him at Oregon at outside linebacker for us and then eventually grew into a 305-310 pound defensive lineman. So, just how big he is physically and just that growth and I still think he’s got a little bit more to grow, but just physically how much bigger he’s gotten since I first saw him as a freshman.”

Kelly's warning about not reading too much into things was driven home Sunday as the Niners used a group that didn't include Buckner with the first-team, particularly in running situations.

-- Cornerback Tramaine Brock continues to be Mr. Reliable in practice, again showing off the quick feet and understanding of how receivers are running routes to make timely breaks on the ball and come up with an interception or a pass breakup. Brock is the clear-cut top corner on the team for a reason and that doesn't look like it will be changing any time soon.

-- The 49ers are still seeking another body for the wide receiver group after losing Eric Rogers to a torn ACL on Thursday. The roster is at the maximum of 90 but that includes Rogers, who will eventually be placed on injured reserve.

-- The 49ers activated safety Jaquiski Tartt from the active non-football injury list on Saturday, which has allowed him to return to practice.

-- San Francisco is back at it on Tuesday with a 1:25 p.m. ET practice.