49ers training camp: Jennings, McCaffrey, defense among 10 storylines to watch

SANTA CLARA Opportunity That is the buzzword entering ers training camp and this summer s auditions should be both plentiful and sincere for a franchise capable of reverting to playoff form I m just looking forward to guys taking advantage of the opportunities because we lost specific guys tight end George Kittle revealed in recent months Kittle pointed to a new defense that will await him and the ers offense on the practice fields starting Wednesday a day after all players statement to what will be the ninth camp under coach Kyle Shanahan Here are storylines to watch McCAFFREY S COMEBACK Every rep every practice by Christian McCaffrey will be charted and weighed into how scaled back he s being for a comeback season He looked healthy in spring practices so much so that fullback Kyle Juszczyk in recent weeks disclosed He looks incredible he looks so healthy he looks so explosive It changes everything A week into last year s camp McCaffrey was shut down with what was termed a calf strain He tried to get back for the start of the season only to require further rest and recovery for bilateral Achilles tendinitis Since last scoring a touchdown on a Jauan Jennings pass in the Super Bowl McCaffrey has overcome his Achilles issues plus a knee injury that ended his comeback after four games He also got married last summer to Olivia Culpo and they declared on July the birth of their daughter Colette A JENNINGS HOLD-IN Wide receiver Jauan Jennings wants a contract extension before camp or he ll request a business a source approved last week This contract drama won t parallel Brandon Aiyuk s from a year ago but like Aiyuk Jennings could show up to avoid fines and opt not to practice until a resolution is reached on his contract which expires after this season Jennings bypassed mandatory minicamp in June with what coach Kyle Shanahan termed a minor calf issue Aiyuk had back and neck issues last summer until a -million-per-year deal was brokered in late August ROOKIE COLLINS STATUS Defensive tackle Alfred Collins initial camp is intriguing on two fronts First he broke a deadlock among second-round picks throughout the league by reaching a deal Wednesday that includes over million guaranteed in his four-year million contract Beyond that business Collins has yet to practice with the ers because of a calf strain before the draft DEFENSIVE CHANGES Robert Saleh s return as defensive coordinator should spark new capacity but also new looks with a slew of personnel changes not just compared to his previous stint - but even the last sparse years I m excited to see our new defense Kittle announced Genuinely I m excited to go against Saleh again That will be really fun DEFENSIVE LINE SHUFFLE Each year the ers introduce new players into Nick Bosa s supporting cast and this year s greatest additions include first-round pick Mykel Williams and veteran pass rusher Bryce Huff on the opposite edge of Bosa On the interior Collins and rookie C J West should push Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens for starting spots as all four are pegged to rotate But don t dismiss incumbents Yetur Gross-Matos Sam Okuayinonu Robert Beal Jr Evan Anderson and Kalia Davis L A LAW Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir have had to deal with separate legal matters in Los Angeles but that should not keep either out of camp It could impact their availability this season if the NFL doles out discipline however Robinson in recent months pled no contest to last year s driving-under-the-influence arrest while he was on the Rams and NFL guidelines could prompt a three-game suspension at selected point the next month or so Lenoir s arrest last month for obstruction of justice scheduled him for a July court date if he s charged PEARSALL S PRESENCE Ricky Pearsall s greater presence in the offense should be compelling especially with Jennings unclear participation and Brandon Aiyuk s side-field rehabilitation Pearsall finished his rookie season strong but he missed a chunk of his rookie camp because of shoulder issues prior to him surviving a gunshot wound through his chest in a Labor Day Weekend robbery attempt in Union Square WARNER S WINGMAN Related Articles ers release special teams standout George Odum amid major overhaul ers sign rookie Collins after second-round guarantee deadlock The ers have held Jauan Jennings up as a model Will they pay him ers star George Kittle named NFL s top tight end Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey welcome st baby before training camp Dre Greenlaw s departure in free agency stung greater part in this spring s exodus of talent Dee Winters figures to get the first shot as the weak-side linebacker next to All-Pro Fred Warner Rookie Nick Martin should contend for that role presuming he s not hindered by a fractured thumb before June s mandatory minicamp LATE ADDITIONS The ers have a lot of salary cap room million if they want to add a household name via free agency or agreement Which positions might command last-minute shopping Wide receivers and defensive backs are dependably in need and the ers appear thin at both spots including safety while Ji Ayir Brown ankle and Malik Mustapaha knee KICKER COMPETITION Last but not least in fans minds will be whether kicker Jake Moody retains his job after a rough second season This time Moody must beat out a veteran Greg Joseph who had a brief stint last season with the New York Jets whose special teams coordinator Brant Boyer is now in that role with the ers refurbished unit