The San Francisco 49ers officially hit the field for their first training camp practice of 2025, setting the tone for what's ahead in the weeks leading up to the season. While the team won't put on pads until Monday, as required by league rules, there was still plenty to observe as players got back into rhythm.

Practice Fields Get an Upgrade

The practice fields at the SAP Performance Facility received a major offseason facelift. This was the team's first practice on the updated layout, which now features two fields, one measuring 165 yards and the other about 100 yards, and the former turf section has been replaced with natural grass.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan joked that the new field orientation left him "dizzy" as he adjusted, but the upgrades are a positive step toward enhancing practices. The team will work through a few sessions before finalizing the field setup and practice routines.

Injury Updates and Player Availability

Wide receiver Jacob Cowing left practice early after tweaking his hamstring, and Shanahan said he's expected to miss some time. Guard Ben Bartch, who remains on the NFI list with a quad injury, and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, still recovering from a hamstring injury, participated in rehab work on the side.

Meanwhile, RB Christian McCaffrey, T Trent Williams, and DL Nick Bosa participated in individual drills as the team manages their workload coming off rest days, keeping them fresh for more intense sessions later in camp.

Early Lineups and Plays of the Day

The opening 11-on-11 team period brought instant excitement. Quarterback Brock Purdy connected with TE George Kittle on a deep pass for the very first play. The defense answered quickly, as safety Jason Pinnock made a diving interception on the next play, and linebacker Dee Winters followed it up by jumping a slant for another pick.

Jauan Jennings hauled in three catches on four targets and led every receiver drill. On the defensive line, rookies Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins caught attention with their size and versatility.

"Mykel looked really good. He's very physical, got a big reach, so I think he just needs to hone in, obviously it's the first day, on his aiming points and trusting the system," Bosa said. "I think him and Alfred are coming from different styles, but both of them have immense talent so it'll be fun to watch them grow.

"I like the group, I think we have a lot of talent. When you look out on the field, you see NFL bodies out there that look impressive, which is a good thing. Obviously we're young, but I think just because nobody knows them now, they'll play a good couple games, then whole world knows them, so it'll be exciting."

Taking a closer look at the linemen, Spencer Burford opened at left tackle with Trent Williams resting, alongside Nick Zakelj at gaurd, Jake Brendel at center, Dominick Puni at right guard and Colton McKivitz at right tackle. Defensively, Mykel Williams and Sam Okuayinonu lined up on the edges with Kevin Givens and Jordan Elliott inside to start.

Special teams also had a strong start. Kickers Jake Moody and Greg Joseph were perfect, hitting all of their field-goal attempts from 30, 35, 40, and 50 yards.

Looking Ahead

The first few practices are always about getting comfortable and reestablishing rhythm, but the real intensity kicks in when pads come on Monday. Shanahan acknowledged that Day 1 can be "frustrating" without full contact, but noted that the team is building toward the physical, high-tempo practices that lie ahead.

"(With pads) you have a chance to block people, you can start just getting more ready for football," Shanahan said. "It's hard Day 1, everyone's ready to go but still got to be patient. So, I just try to stay as relaxed as possible to get in this groove and usually we are by next week."