49ers Kyle Shanahan unfazed by key absences during OTAs

May 22, 2024, 11:30 AM | Updated: 11:42 am

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 24: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on prior to a game against the Washington Commanders at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

After two days of OTAs, Kyle Shanahan isn’t worried about absences, looking forward to the days that follow where the focus is solely on football.

That was the sentiment echoed by the San Francisco 49ers coach Tuesday to the media. Notable absences for the 49ers at this time are wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings, running back Christian McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams. Aiyuk is the biggest question mark, holding out for a new mega deal on the horizon.

But as always, OTAs are optional, with Shanahan not worrying about missing players at this time.

“Same as I do about all these guys that aren’t here. I wish they were here but it’s something that’s part of the business and anytime it’s part of the business part you try to respect it,” Kyle Shanahan said regarding Aiyuk. “Stay out of it as much as possible. Look forward to the days when we can just focus on football.”

Jennings is in that same realm as his counterpart, having not put pen to paper on his restricted free agent tender. Williams was an expected miss for OTAs, focusing on staying healthy for the 2024 season. Christian McCaffrey was more a notable absence.

But again, it’s OTAs.

As for the players on hand, Kyle Shanahan raved about quarterback Brock Purdy, excited to see his progress in his first unscathed offseason in the NFL.

Kyle Shanahan details the differences between Brock Purdy this offseason compared to last 🔽 pic.twitter.com/K0zZPazs24

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) May 21, 2024

“He is definitely ahead of where he was last year this time, but I mean it was just real cool being able to go through a whole year of cutups just like we did last year and just starting in Phase 1,” the coach stated. “The command he had of going out there with the drills and everything and really trying to apply the stuff we had just been watching in the meeting rooms, that really happened all off our 2023 tape. Last year he had to do it and then it would just be frustrating for him because he couldn’t really go work on it. He had to just visualize and think about it and had to wait for that opportunity in training camp.

“This year, right away, it’s been awesome for him to lead us through the whole offseason, just drill wise and everything. he’s been great to have for a first full offseason.”

Another big name making his way to Santa Clara was Nick Bosa, to many peoples’ surprise.

Nick Bosa’s contract saga went up to the wire in 2023, signing the deal a few days before Week 1 of the regular season. That time away from practice field hindered the All-Pro to a degree, not lying up to his standards last season.

2024 is a different approach, on hand for his first OTAs since his rookie season. And that’s much to the liking of the 49ers as a whole.

Shanahan loves having Bosa at OTAs 🙌 pic.twitter.com/JPqDPMcArD

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) May 21, 2024

“I love Nick being around, love him getting a chance to do football with the guys and stuff. I think Nick’s first year here after the Super Bowl, his first offseason, we had Covid. The next year after the offseason, he had a torn ACL and the year after that he was in contract stuff. I believe that’s right,” Shanahan said. “This is the first year that it has kind of just been a totally normal year. And I think the one year that it was like that he came to a few OTAs, didn’t come to all of them, but he didn’t just come to minicamp. So I’m glad he is here the first week and hopefully it’ll continue.”

Click here to watch the full media availability with Kyle Shanahan.