Fred Warner de-escalates fiery, fight-filled 49ers-Titans joint practice
“The 49ers had two notable plays on back-to-back snaps highlighted by plays from defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
Odighizuwa supplied pressure up the middle and grabbed a handful of Titans quarterback Cam Ward’s jersey as he ran past.
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The Titans did not take kindly to Odighizuwa touching their quarterback during the joint practice.
On the next play, Brown sniffed out a Ward throw over the deep middle for an interception.
The Titans were unable to connect down the field against the 49ers’ defensive backfield.”
Fred Warner drops eye-popping praise about ‘sticky’ 49ers defensive backs
“The way they’re playing, sticky in coverage, playing the ball in the air, being able to play the run game or the ball thrown the flat, the ability to tackle, I think it’s one of the best I’ve seen thus far,” Warner said. “I’m really excited about what I’m seeing. We just got to continue to jell and mesh that thing together so it’s the best version for when that time comes.”
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Fred Warner, 49ers’ pass defense stand out in heated session with Titans’ Cam Ward (paywall)
“But the bulk of Ward’s completions came on screens and short throws, and his best opportunities deep down the field couldn’t be hauled in by his receivers. He was twice flushed from the pocket by third-round rookie Romello Height. On another play, Ward forced a throw to Wan’Dale Robinson in tight coverage, allowing safety Ji’Ayir Brown to step forward and pick off the pass.
That play also ended in a brief dustup involving cornerbacks Green and Upton Stout. During the ensuing delay, Warner walked from the sideline to the east end zone, raising both arms to pump up the crowd.
After all, it’s been a while since he’s been able to do that.
“That’s why I love joint practices,” he said afterward. “You really have an opportunity to work on your craft and really see where your team is….I don’t know if I’ve felt that confident in that part of the game as I feel right now,” he said. “That’s not a knock on any team that I’ve played with before. But I think this group is kind of meshing together, playing together, sticky in coverage, playing the ball in the air. … I think it’s one of the best I’ve seen thus far. I’m really excited.”
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2026 San Francisco 49ers training camp: Latest intel, updates
“I had Purdy at 21-of-27 on the day, including multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions.
His best throws came in a move the ball sequence in which he dropped a perfect ball between three defenders to rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling that would have gone for a long touchdown. And then, he had another layered throw over linebacker Cody Barton for a big gain to TE Jake Tonges.”
49ers’ Nick Bosa has knee tendinitis after ACL recovery, per Kyle Shanahan
“Just soreness, tendinitis,” Shanahan said. “It’s a pretty normal thing with ACLs. Talking with our guys (medical staff), it happens with about 90 percent of the guys we’ve had.”
How the 49ers’ defense looks different under Raheem Morris
“The goal, not unlike coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, is to utilize personnel groupings that make everything look the same before quickly transforming into something else.
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Through the first two weeks of camp, three young 49ers — second-year linebacker Nick Martin and rookies Jaden Dugger and Romello Height — have emerged as the top candidates for the job. Each has done one of those jobs well over their career, but they’re trying to add other tools to their belt throughout camp.
It’s why Dugger spent some time at a recent practice with the defensive line, working to hone his pass-rush moves. And it’s why observers have seen Height take reps dropping into coverage. Martin has also occasionally lined up as the fifth defender on the line of scrimmage during team periods in this camp.
Linebacker coach K.J. Wright said the winner of that competition, which he says is still wide open, won’t claim the job just based on physical attributes. They’ll have to prove they can handle the workload that accompanies so many responsibilities. Hence the position’s name.”
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