49ers QBs Brock Purdy & Mac Jones impress at July 24 camp, but WR injuries mount. Get the latest on Aiyuk, Neyor, and how the offense is adapting.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
After a shaky start to training camp, the 49ers' quarterback room found its footing on Thursday. Both Brock Purdy and backup Mac Jones looked sharp and decisive in the team's second practice, an unpadded 90-minute session. But as the QBs heated up, the wide receiver group continued to thin out, forcing the front office to make yet another move to simply have enough healthy bodies on the field.
Mac Jones impressed with a 40-yard deep completion to rookie Isaiah Neyor, showing quick decision-making and a strong arm.
Day 2 of camp brought a collective sigh of relief from the Faithful. Brock Purdy, with his key weapons Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams back in 11-on-11 drills, looked like his old self. His accuracy was on point, his decisions were quick, and he orchestrated the offense with confidence. Not to be outdone, backup Mac Jones turned heads with his own strong showing, highlighted by that beautiful 40-yard bomb to rookie Isaiah Neyor. It's the kind of performance that builds confidence in the depth behind QB1, especially with the energy boost provided by the returning veterans.
While the quarterbacks shined, the spotlight remains firmly on the depleted wide receiver room. Brandon Aiyuk, while looking mobile in rehab videos, is still only participating in a limited, half-speed fashion as he recovers from his significant ACL/MCL injuries. The situation worsened when rookie Jacob Cowing was sidelined with a hamstring injury that could jeopardize his Week 1 availability. With fellow rookie Ricky Pearsall also nursing a hamstring (though expected back Sunday), the Niners were forced to act, signing veteran Quintez Cephus. This marks their second WR signing in three days, a clear sign of the team's urgent need for depth.
The good news is that the team's cautious approach with its stars appears to be working. After sitting out team drills on Day 1, McCaffrey, Williams, and Nick Bosa were all full participants Thursday, immediately elevating the level of practice. This load management strategy is central to getting the team's core to the regular season healthy. For fantasy managers, it's a positive sign, as projections continue to peg CMC as the top running back in the league. With Vegas setting the team's win total at 10.5 against a favorable schedule, the potential is high if they can stay on the field.
All eyes will be on the receiver group heading into the weekend. Will Ricky Pearsall indeed return to practice by Sunday as expected? And how quickly can new signings Quintez Cephus and Equanimeous St. Brown get up to speed? The quarterback play on Thursday was a major positive, but it won't matter if they don't have healthy targets to throw to. The roster's health remains the number one storyline of this 49ers training camp.
