SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Gracen Halton isn’t one of those shy, sit-back-and-observe rookies. No, the defensive tackle feels it’s better to be seen and heard.
Halton’s outbursts, in fact, have become a staple of San Francisco 49ers training camp and usually go something like this: He fires off the snap, gains an edge on a guard or center and blows past him into the backfield. Then comes the shout of success, the roar of victory, the barbaric “Yawp!” — whatever you want to call it — that riles up teammates … and, in one case, an opponent.
After Halton’s first-ever win in one-on-one drills earlier this month, 49ers tackle Trent Williams strolled over to the defensive line’s section to offer a handshake and encouragement. Both are University of Oklahoma products who met three years ago when Williams was on the sideline for a Sooners game, though Halton doubts the veteran tackle remembers the encounter.
“I was one of the guys that said what’s up to him,” Halton said. “I was dang starstruck.”
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Williams certainly knows his name now.
“Obviously I’m a little biased,” he said when asked about Halton, one of the standouts in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. “But I think the world has seen what he has to offer — very explosive, short-area quickness, really powerful. Puts you in the mind of D.J. Jones a little bit.”
Jones, who plays for the Denver Broncos, spent his first five seasons in San Francisco and became a locker-room favorite. He and Halton have a similar profile: they’re bowling ball-shaped with tremendous spring when the ball is snapped. Halton, in fact, ran his 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February in a tight-end-like 4.82 seconds — impressive for someone who weighs nearly 300 pounds.
He showed that explosion on back-to-back plays Thursday against the Titans, sacking quarterback Cam Ward on one snap (the play was wiped out because of a penalty) and then stopping tailback Tyjae Spears for a loss on the next.
Halton feels he’s making up for lost time.
He hyperextended his knee on the first day of training camp and missed the initial week of practice. He didn’t exactly ease his way back into the mix when he returned, making plays in both one-on-one and 11-on-11 situations and letting everyone know about it with a mighty roar.
“That’s what I like to do,” he said. “I imagine myself as a lion going out to get the gazelle. So when I do those one-on-ones, my mindset is, I’m going off to hunt.”
Odds & ends
• Receivers Mike Evans (quadriceps strain) and Jacob Cowing (hip flexor) had their most extensive practices since getting injured early in training camp. Cowing, in fact, had perhaps the offensive highlight of the day when he came down with a nicely thrown over-the-shoulder deep ball from quarterback Mac Jones during a move-the-ball period. Two plays later, Jones found a sliding Malik Turner for a touchdown that ended practice.
It looked as if Brock Purdy’s move-the-ball session also ended in a touchdown when he connected with tight end Luke Farrell in the corner of the end zone. Coaches, however, ruled that Osa Odighizuwa had “sacked” Purdy on the play, so the offense had to run it again. This time Purdy’s attempt to tight end Jake Tonges fell incomplete.
Purdy was 7-of-14 in team situations. Jones was 11-of-15 with an interception (by rookie Jalen Stroman) on a throw over the middle to Demarcus Robinson. Adrian Martinez was 6-of-7. Kurtis Rourke, who suffered a rib injury in Thursday’s preseason opener, watched practice in a hooded sweatshirt. The 49ers did not give an update on his injury or prognosis.
• Odighizuwa was prominent Saturday, finishing with at least two would-be sacks and also flushing Purdy from the pocket on a separate play. That may have been because rookie Carver Willis lined up at left guard with the first-string offensive line for half the practice, his first snaps with that unit. He alternated series with Connor Colby at left guard. Robert Jones played right guard with the second-team unit.
“It’s a three-man race,” Williams said when asked about the left guard competition. “So may the best man win.”
A fourth candidate, Brett Toth, has not practiced recently due to a concussion.
• Though cornerback Jack Jones (hand) and safety Marques Sigle (oblique) left Thursday’s game, both took part in Saturday’s practice. Jones, in fact, forced and recovered a fumble.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw didn’t practice, although he was in his uniform and doesn’t appear to be dealing with anything serious. As was the case Thursday, rookie Jaden Dugger lined up at Greenlaw’s usual spot of weakside linebacker. Dugger played weakside when the Titans used three wide receivers Thursday and flipped to strongside — what the 49ers now call the “fever” position — when Tennessee was in traditional personnel.
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• Tuesday’s upcoming joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers, which seemed to be in jeopardy when the 49ers’ injury total reached 20 a week ago, now appears locked in. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said he’s looking for a “more composed practice” from his defense after the one against the Titans was filled with scuffles and stoppages. The 49ers and Chargers will scrimmage at the Chargers facility, then meet on Thursday at SoFi Stadium.
• Injured running backs Jordan James (rib), Kaelon Black (adductor) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) worked out next to one another on a side field as practice got underway. None are expected to take part in the practice and game against the Chargers, but the Aug. 27 preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders seems possible.
•Rookie tight end Khalil Dinkins tried out for the 49ers Saturday. Dinkins, a blocking specialist, initially signed with San Francisco as an undrafted free agent in the spring but missed most of organized team activities and was waived with a non-football injury before training camp.
• One more injury update: Kyle Shanahan is no longer wearing a brace on the hand he broke in a July 14 car crash in Palo Alto, Calif.
