SANTA CLARA — General manager John Lynch stood way downfield between the hashes, essentially spying the same view of his days as a Pro Football of Fame safety.
This is his ninth training camp doing that, so it’s not out of the ordinary. But this camp, Lynch is staring at a shift-on-the-fly, youth-laden defense in which a wide-open competition should unearth a new safety tandem.
Marques Sigle might be Lynch’s latest fifth-round steal, clocking 4.37-second speed in the 40-yard dash. He is on a pleasantly surprising ascent, as witnessed with his starting assignment in Saturday’s preseason opener, not to mention Tuesday’s first-string work before the Niners head to Las Vegas for Thursday’s practice and Saturday’s game.
“It comes down to film study and just being confident and playing fast, regardless if you mess up or not,” Sigle said after that 30-9 loss to Denver. “Good play or bad play, I’m always on to the next play.”
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said he’s kept Sigle in the first-string unit for a couple of reasons: “One, he’s earned that right, and, two, the safety group is a little beat up right now. So it’s a good opportunity for him. He went out Saturday and did a really nice job, especially in the middle of the field, erasing tackles.”
When Saleh first arrived in 2017 as defensive coordinator, he termed one safety spot, “The Eraser,” a role initially pegged for Jimmie Ward.
The 49ers started 17 different players at safety since Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan arrived in 2017, and the lone Pro Bowler was Talanoa Hufanga in 2022. Their most stable tandems were Ward and Jaquiski Tartt through the 2021 season, then Hufanga paired well with Tashaun Gipson from 2022-24. Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha each had 13 starts last season.
The safety competition has been overlooked three weeks into camp.
Brown, battling with a surgically repaired ankle, was a step slow to prevent multiple George Kittle catches Tuesday, including a sideline bomb Kittle caught in stride from Brock Purdy and raced with into the end zone, past Lynch.
Veteran Jason Pinnock, a day after joyfully breaking up a Purdy pass, was limited to individual drills Tuesday, though he’s seemed locked into a starting role. Fellow newcomer Richie Grant is out a week with a knee injury, though one not nearly as severe as Mustapha’s January ACL tear that will shelve him until at least midseason.
Lynch would never minimize the value of safety, but the NFL has cracked down on punishing hits like he delivered, so discovering young safeties is key, while big money is allocated to more marquee positions.
“He shows tremendous range. His zero-to-60 speed is off the charts,” Saleh said. “He can get to places in a hurry. From a range standpoint, it was never a concern. It’s more about acclimating to the pro game, how he can fit in the run game, whether he can tackle, and whether he can make contact and not give up leaky yardage with big backs.”
Sigle made seven tackles (five solo) and played 33 snaps before a knee bruise sent him to the sideline Saturday. “I’ve been living this dream my whole life and now it’s finally here, so I can’t be nervous,” Sigle said afterward at his locker, which is in a row of temporary metal ones.
He began his career at North Dakota State in 2020 as a teammate of future 49ers draft bust Trey Lance, then Sigle moved on in 2023 to Kansas State, producing three interceptions as a captain last season. “Right now I’m feeling like a rookie, still learning a lot and thinking a lot more than college,” Sigle said.
Saleh vouches for Sigle having the requisite traits to hold up as a 5-foot-11, 199-pounder at either free or strong safety: movement, speed, instinct, violence. “As he gets those extended reps, he’s got to find a way to cement it,” Saleh said.
COWING RETURNS
Jacob Cowing practiced for the first time since a hamstring strain in the first practice of camp three weeks ago. He fielded punts and kickoffs, plus a few snaps lining up at wide receiver for an injury-ravaged corps.
As for the rest of that unit, Jauan Jennings lightly worked on the side with a trainer as his absence from practice stretches into its third week. Jordan Watkins missed a second straight practice and is expected to be sidelined a month with a high ankle sprain from Saturday’s game.
BARTCH EXITS EARLY
Left guard Ben Bartch headed into the weight room with an unknown issue late in practice. Connor Colby replaced him on the first-string unit in an ensuing red zone drill. Nick Zakelj had taken first-team reps at left guard before Bartch’s quadriceps got cleared and he came off the Physically Unable to Perform list on July 31.
BIG MAN TOUCHDOWN
With so many wide receivers hurt, why not throw a touchdown pass to an offensive lineman? OK, it wasn’t planned, but Dominic Puni caught a Purdy pass that deflected off intended target Kyle Juszczyk’s hands, then Puni rumbled about 10 yards into the end zone in a red zone drill.
PURDY TO KITTLE
Purdy capped the opening drive of full-team action with a 30-yard touchdown to Kittle down the right side. They weren’t done. Kittle bobbled then held on for an over-the-middle catch on a throw over Brown’s coverage, then three snaps later, Purdy hit Kittle with a 40-yard pass in the air down the right sideline, also over Brown.
SPECIAL TEAMS CORNER
Rookie Junior Bergen, who had a 28-yard punt return in Saturday’s debut, said he’s indeed heard a couple of times how the 49ers have not returned a punt for a touchdown since the 2011 opener. Said Bergen: “I don’t think we’re focused on the past too much, just be in the present and try and make plays.” Bergen, a seventh-round pick from Montana, averaged 20 yards on two kick returns Saturday.
Kicker Jake Moody made all seven of his field-goal attempts, a week after the 49ers cut his competition, Greg Joseph.