49ers' Brock Purdy likes the ‘real' looks he's getting as Nick Bosa keeps wreaking havoc

New York Times

a day ago

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It's been a week since Brock Purdy became a father, and the San Francisco 49ers quarterback said Friday that he 'can't describe how awesome it is coming home and seeing a little baby girl, holding her, and her sleeping on me.'
When Millie isn't sleeping on his shoulder, Purdy is at training camp busy getting ready for the season. And one of the things he is also enjoying a lot is pass rusher Nick Bosa constantly tapping his shoulder during scrimmages. Bosa did it at least four times at Friday's practice, as he beat right tackle Colton McKivitz for three would-be sacks and politely let Purdy know that he could have blown him up.
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(Bosa has been the star of camp, along with running back Christian McCaffrey, and he also got by left tackle Trent Williams to shut down a run play.)
'It's good getting that kind of pass rush,' Purdy said. 'It's real. If you're at practice and dropping back and not getting touched and going through your progressions all perfectly, to me, it can be scary.
'Because once you get in a game, it's 11-on-11, it's going fast, you've got different blitzes, different stunts from the D-line, and they're up in your face.'
Which is the service that Bosa provides with a smile.
'To have him every single rep and feeling his presence 24/7, honestly, it's great work for all of us, myself included,' Purdy said. 'Throwing with push in the pocket and having different arm angles, it's all real … it's really good, so I appreciate him for that.'
• Purdy is running out of receivers to throw to. Rookie Jordan Watkins joined injured wideouts Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing and Brandon Aiyuk on the sideline Friday. The 49ers signed former Arizona Cardinals second-round pick Andy Isabella, 28, on Thursday, but the former speedster has clearly lost a step or six.
• Backup quarterback Mac Jones has been sharp and looks more confident in Kyle Shanahan's system than he did in offseason workouts. Part of the reason is that Jones took his work home with him during the summer break.
'I did like 10 practices on my own in full pads,' Jones said. 'We have (script) installs, like every team does. And you go through and just hit each play and call the play and run the plays, and I was fortunate to have people help me do that. … I like to throw in pads.'
• Both Jones and Purdy took off on effective scrambles on Friday, and Jones said he enjoys the look on people's faces when he does.
'I guess everyone thinks I'm really slow,' he said, smiling. 'Maybe I look like Forrest Gump out there sometimes, but I've been working on my quickness and I think that's one part of my game I improved last year on tape if you watch the tape and stuff.
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'If you can scramble and get 5 (yards), it makes it a lot easier on Kyle to call the game from like first-and-10 to second-and-5 versus second-and-10.'
• While rookie defensive tackle CJ West, selected in the fourth round, continues to get rave reviews, second-round pick Alfred Collins does not. And that's OK.
'He's coming along,' defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. 'He missed all of (offseason workouts), not to make excuses for the young man, but he did. It was with a (calf) injury, so it wasn't like he was doing D-line drills. He was just trying to get up to speed.
'So, he's behind the eight ball, but he's working hard. Love the way he's approaching every day, and he'll catch up. He's a big body with good feet. Those are things you can't teach.'
• Starting cornerbacks Deommodore Lenoir (hip) and Renardo Green (hamstring) didn't practice and neither did rookie running back Jordan James (knee). Saleh said it gave Dallis Flowers and Tre Brown a good chance to get reps and compete for the team's No. 3 cornerback spot, while rookie Upton Stout continues to make his case to start in the slot. Stout has been able to get the best of everyone … except for veteran newcomer Russell Gage.
Gage, in his sixth year after four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has run some really crisp routes this camp. Purdy tipped his cap to Gage and Demarcus Robinson after practice.
'It's huge with Jauan and B.A. out for now, to have guys like that who can go in and still show the young guys like, 'hey, this is how it's done,'' Purdy said. 'They're detailed in what they do, they know their assignment, but you throw it out there in man coverage, zone or whatever, they're going to go get it. And tight windows, even if it's like a bang-bang kind of play, having strong hands and tucking the ball right after, those are all real things.
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'They show that every single practice. So, I'm excited to have them and for them to be an example for the rest of the guys.'
• LB Curtis Robinson (knee) was activated off the physically unable to perform list. The 49ers re-signed the special-teams standout to a one-year deal in March.
Greg Papa, the radio voice of the 49ers, is stepping away from his broadcasting duties while undergoing treatment for cancer, he announced on Friday. Papa, a longtime on-air host at KNBR 680-AM, said he is fully focused on his treatment and looking forward to a full recovery.
'Thanks to everyone for your prayers and good wishes as I begin this fight,' Papa said in a statement.
We're all behind you, Papa. ❤️ https://t.co/cp1vsAn1pV pic.twitter.com/awh4gl9N9W
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 1, 2025