SANTA CLARA — Here are the highs, lows and other deeds during Thursday's second practice of 49ers' training camp:
TODAY'S HIGH: DBs
All hail the 49ers' secondary. Yes, last season's maligned unit could be a lock-down force this season. Or so it looked in an eight-play sequence deep into this practice.
Jimmie Ward's interception of a Trey Lance pass was far from the only highlight. Two plays earlier, fellow safety Talanoa Hufanga broke on the ball to break up a Lance dart toward Ray-Ray McCloud.
A few plays before that, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley broke up Brandon Aiyuk's near-catch of a 40-yard, Lance lob. That play ignited the eight-play sequence, which closed with new cornerback Charvarius Ward striding with Jauan Jennings to break up a 40-yard shot down the sideline.
"It's a lot of encouragement. Excited and happy about the unit we have back there," defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans said afterward. "All those guys have done a great job. They're off to a really great start. All we're looking for is to continue to compete and get better, and if we open the season up that way, we'll be very happy."
TODAY'S LOW: Stats
Stat lines should be meaningless in camp, especially when shoulder pads and live contact are still days away from debuting (Monday). But some people are consumed by data, and Lance's 7-of-15 line was very pedestrian. Four of his incompletions were on attempts to his favorite target, Aiyuk, including Ward's interception.
Now forget about that imperfect line (as well as Lance's near-perfect, 9-of-11 effort Wednesday). Lance threaded in some spectacular passes, including one over the middle to George Kittle (Ward was a step slow for an interception) and a sidewinder to Aiyuk, past Moseley and Dre Greenlaw.
Lance also showed Shanahan's No. 1 trait: an ability to stand in the pocket to take a hit, which he would have endured if this was a game. On one of many plays in which the defensive front collapsed the pocket, Lance didn't move and rifled a shot over the middle to Jauan Jennings.
As for Lance's backups, each also had a pass intercepted, though Nate Sudfeld finished 13-of-15 and Brock Purdy 5-of-7.
DEEP SHOTS
Rookie Danny Gray's speed was unveiled, and it paid off with him catching a 40-yard bomb from Purdy after slipping past defensive backs Ka'Dar Hollman and Tayler Hawkins, the latter of whom intercepted Purdy's next chuck downfield. Hollman intercepted Purdy earlier in the practice.
ROLL CALL
Defensive lineman Arik Armstead was not at practice for unknown reasons; Ryans did not comment why and deferred any questions to coach Kyle Shanahan, which is Ryans' protocol on such matters as attendance and injuries.
Right tackle Trent Williams remained away a second straight day (family matter), and there was no sign of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, as expected while he rehabs his shoulder and awaits marching orders to a team-to-be-named later.
Check back on this post for more updates this afternoon.
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