Brock Purdy graduates to the next level of preparation at 49ers camp

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — A day after their most grueling practice of training camp to date, the San Francisco 49ers enjoyed a lighter session in cooler temperatures on Sunday. Quarterback Brock Purdy, though, continued to heat up.

 

Purdy, who had finished Saturday’s marathon with a crisp two-minute drive that featured a perfect back-shoulder touchdown throw to receiver Jauan Jennings, threw only three incompletions on Sunday. Two of those were drops on excellent throws. The 49ers’ pass offense found a nice rhythm even without two of its top targets, as receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s hold-in continues and his fellow wideout Deebo Samuel took his first veteran day off of camp.

(Missing those two) makes me play quarterback really efficiently,” Purdy said after practice. “When they’re on the field, my antenna’s up. If I do get this look, I’m more like likely to throw to Aiyuk or Deebo. So a day like this was good for me to go through all my reads.”

 

The result: Impressive receptions for Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell — wideouts who don’t make as many headlines as their famous counterparts, but who have been productive this camp. Bell made a pair of contested catches, including one that came on an off-schedule, cross-body throw from Purdy as the quarterback rolled away from edge rusher Leonard Floyd to his left.

Conley plays Aiyuk’s “X” receiver position, so he’s occupying a particularly important role during the latter’s contract standoff. Conley had only five catches last season, but two came in the playoffs. That included a huge 17-yard grab from Purdy on the 49ers’ game-winning drive against the Green Bay Packers.

 

“He has that veteran mindset — he’s smart,” Purdy said. “He knows the details of our offense. He knows where he needs to be in terms of the timing, the concepts, the plays. Chris has that older veteran-ness to him.

Timing and rapport were on full display on that playoff catch against Green Bay. Purdy delivered the throw on the deep out before Conley came out of his break, an indicator of trust between quarterback and target.

 

On Sunday, Purdy emphasized that it takes time to develop that sort of rapport with his receivers. He and Conley are clearly in sync — the wideout caught a crosser in stride the day after Purdy connected with him deep for a 60-yard touchdown — but the 49ers will have to spend this month fostering other connections.