SANTA CLARA – Nick Bosa sagely gave pass-rushing tips to rookie Mykel Williams off to the side as Thursday’s practice began, just over a week until the 49ers’ season starts.
That combination punch – the Bosa-Williams merger and their sack-seeking technique – very well could lead their defensive front’s resurgence.
But before the 49ers can chase down quarterbacks, their new cast of defenders must rediscover the franchise’s standard of first stopping the run, especially at run-oriented depots in Seattle and New Orleans to start the season.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is aware of that. He’s sensed a shift in the NFL, from pass-happy offenses back to old-school ground games churning out 3 yards-and-a-cloud-of-synthetic-turf-pellets.
“Teams are going more to running. You kind of feel that,” Saleh said Thursday. “All of us on defense are sitting back playing two-shell (with deep safeties). … I do think these coordinators are starting to get back to running the football and establishing that, to get people from playing two-shell. It does seem the evolution is going back to the run game.”
The 49ers gave him a rude awakening in that last year, when Saleh began his fourth and soon-to-be-final season as the New York Jets coach. Coach Kyle Shanahan dialed up 38 runs for 180 yards in a 32-19 win. “It was like a punch in the mouth in Week 1 last year,” Saleh recalled.
The 49ers kept 11 defensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster. They’ve made no secret that front-four (front-five?) is key to a franchise turnaround from last season’s last-place funk.
The defensive line, like too many other units, was not at full strength for Thursday’s practice. Neither Kalia Davis and Yetur Gross-Matos were in the opening D-line drills.
But this rebooted line did have Williams, Alfred Collins and C.J. West – three of their top-five draft picks – lining up and looking like capable starters, along with Bosa, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and pass-rush specialist Bryce Huff. Williams, Collins and West all missed time with injuries to hinder their growth since the NFL Draft.
“Remember when Nick Bosa missed his rookie training camp and turned out alright? It’s probably more of an outlier, right?” Saleh said. “It’s never ideal. They’re rookies. They’re going to have bumps. We’ll have to coach our butts off. The good news it’s a really cool group of young men deliberate in their approach.”
Saleh is bracing for growing pains, acknowledging that the interior defensive line offers cruel initiations to rookies in terms of blocking combinations and “the strongest people they’ve ever gone against.”
Opponents ran for 124.6 yards per game, and the 49ers allowed five 100-yard rushers in the final seven games.
“I’d like to say we have an idea the way it’s going to look and how we rotate our guys. But that can change after Week 1,” Saleh added. “We’re going to roll out the dice (next) Sunday and see how it works. “
RECEIVER ROULETTE
Six quick notes on the wide receiver wild ways:
— Marquez Valdes-Scantling debuted and officially was signed to the practice squad, two days after the Seattle Seahawks released him despite a $3 million guaranteed deal in the spring.
— The receiver who did get added to the 49ers’ 53-man roster was Russell Gage Jr. He got cut Tuesday and worked out on the side Thursday while recovering from a knee sprain in camp.
— Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ No. 1 wide receiver by both production and default, appeared to require treatment on a foot/heel blister after warmups. It didn’t appear anything serious, but anything about this unit is cause for alarm.
— Jauan Jennings remains out of view and has not practiced since July 27. General manager John Lynch did not add much onto Wednesday’s comments about Jennings’ calf and trade-request denial, but Lynch did say on KNBR 680-AM: “Hopefully this thing has a resolution and he’s back on the field and will be rolling. There’s couple issues at play and those things settle themselves.”
— Jordan Watkins (ankle) worked out on the side, as did Jacob Cowing, who went on Injured Reserve on Wednesday and is out at least the first four games.
— Kendrick Bourne, a 49er from 2017-20, is scheduled to visit as a free agent Monday, then check out the Washington Commanders on Tuesday, with framework for a deal in place at either spot, NFL Network reported.
VALDES-SCANTLING’S CHOICE
Wedged between the lockers of Bosa and Williams is that of Valdes-Scantling, a deep-threat wide receiver who was surprised Tuesday when the Seahawks cut him, seeing how they guaranteed him $3 million in the spring to come over from the New Orleans Saints with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Once adrift, Valdes-Scantling chose beteween the Pittsburgh Steelers and the 49ers, the latter of whom pursued him in 2022 after his rookie contract expired with the Packers and again after his 2022-23 Chiefs tenure.
“It was between here and Pittsburgh. I have a good relationship with Aaron Rodgers over there, and he wanted me back,” Valdes-Scantling said. “It was a toss-up, a 50/50. I had to weigh my options, see what I wanted to do and see what would be better in my career at this point. I was excited about it.”
The 49ers’ allure went beyond playing in an offensive system similar to what Valdes-Scantling was in with the 2024 New Orleans Saints and the 2025 Seahawks. Another was “being able to get on the field right away,” Valdes-Scantling said, alluding to the 49ers’ receiver attrition by injury and suspension.
As for catching Brock Purdy’s long ball, Valdes-Scantling said: “He’s lighting it up for a reason. He’s been really good since he got in the league, he’s led a bunch of categories, he’s very efficient and he throws a good football. I’m excited.”
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MORE TRANSACTIONS
Quarterback Adrian Martinez, formerly of the New York Jets, debuted in the 49ers’ rotation behidn Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. Martinez was signed to the practice squad, as was running back Sincere McCormick.
Defensive tackle Evan Anderson cleared waivers and is expected to rejoin the 49ers on their practice squad.