SANTA CLARA — Trent Williams sauntered onto the practice field Wednesday and gave hearty hugs to teammates, including Nick Bosa, before the 49ers’ final practice of their mandatory minicamp.
Neither superstar suited up for that final practice, nor did several other mainstays, but the reigning NFC Championship gang looked back together. Well, almost.
Brandon Aiyuk extended his offseason-long absence amid his holdout for a contract extension, thus exposing him to roughly $100,000 in fines for skipping this week’s mandatory minicamp.
Williams missed Tuesday’s action while attending one of his daughter’s graduation ceremonies. Wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, his 35-year-old body looks ready for a 15th year in the NFL, and he stayed on the field Wednesday to watch the hour-long practice.
“It’s awesome,” left guard Aaron Banks said of anticipating a third season starting next to Williams. “Trent is arguably the best to do it and gives me peace of mind that whatever combination we have together, he’ll get his job done. His experience, the way he sees the game, I pick his brain to make myself a better player on the left side.”
Jaylon Moore has filled in for Williams most of this offseason on the first-string unit, which has also been without starting center Jake Brendel (center); right guard Jon Feliciano has also been out in recent weeks.
Also watching practice rather than suiting up for it: running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner, and defensive backs Talanoa Hufanga, Ji’Ayir Brown, Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir.
The 49ers are four months removed from losing in the Super Bowl to the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Minicamp served as a brief reunion for the 49ers’ star players — many of whose bodies are still recuperating from their fourth playoff run in five seasons. In seven weeks, they’ll return for training camp and a shot at the 49ers’ first Lombardi Trophy in 30 years.
HUFANGA UPDATE
Hufanga is aiming to play in the 49ers’ season opener, 10 months after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. “Give or take anytime, but the goal is to be ready Week 1,” said Hufanga, who doesn’t anticipate being fully cleared when training camp opens. “… They’ll ramp me up correctly in training camp so they don’t just throw me out to the wolves.” The 49ers’ season opener is Sept. 9 against the New York Jets.
Hufanga, aside from his knee recovery, has poured over film to better familiarize himself with Ji’Ayir Brown as the 49ers’ projected starting tandem, though Hufanga insists he still must earn back his job that won him 2022 All-Pro honors. During Wednesday’s session, Hufanga watched from deep in the defensive backfield alongside Brown and general manager John Lynch.
As much as Hufanga covets Lynch’s advice as a Hall of Fame safety, Brown’s presence was much appreciated. “I want to know how Tig’ (Brown) thinks and looks at stuff,” Hufanga said. “It’s cool he came back there today to see how he looks at things.”
BANKS ON PURDY’S PROGRESS
Banks says Brock Purdy is giving off “a feel” of a a more assertive role in the huddle and locker room.
“Brock came in with a certain confidence and swagger that you see in a leader,” Banks said. “I’m excited to see what Brock puts out this year. He’s confident to take a leadership role. But his demeanor hasn’t changed as far as his work ethic. It’s been the same from Day 1 to now.”
As for how Purdy’s improved in offseason workouts, Banks had an apt response: “Hard to say from my point of view. He’s behind me.”
Banks is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and rather than opine for an extension or holdout for one, he said: “When it’s time to cross that bridge, we will. I’m working on controlling what I can control.”
WARNER’S ENDORSEMENT
Second-year linebacker Dee Winters drew high praise from Fred Warner, who said: “Dee’s had the best OTAs out of anybody on the team. He’s come along. As a rookie, he was struggling to learn plays and get in shape. He’s come in this year and been on it, making plays left and right. He’s set himself up to have a great training camp.” Winters mostly played on the second-string defense in offseason workouts while Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, De’Vondre Campbell and Curtis Robinson were the first-string unit.
Warner noted that he’s checking in daily on Dre Greenlaw with his Achilles recovery. “It gets lonely rehabbing a serious injury like that. Obviously he’s still a huge part in what we do,” said Warner, who didn’t participate in spring practices but said his knees did not require platelet-rich-plasma injections for this first offseason in years.
SORENSEN TALKS TAKEAWAYS
Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen led “ball” meetings the past two seasons that emphasized takeaways, and now he’s bequeathing that job to Brandon Staley, the former Chargers’ coach who’s now the assistant head coach and seemingly a roaming mentor to all on defense.
The 49ers defenders almost made a couple of interceptions Wednesday, and Sorensen said such near-takeaways are not ignored: “I used to call it house rules, and for the offense, too. Growing up in my house, my pops said, if it touches your hands, you’ve got to catch it. We have the same mentality for our whole team.”
Sorensen’s first-string defense Wednesday missed a slew of potential and/or past starters: defensive linemen Bosa, Maliek Collins, Jordan Elliott and Drake Jackson, and, linebackers Warner and Dre Greenlaw.
PLAYER OF THE DAY
Levi Lucas, a 12-year-old from Kentucky, was the 49ers’ player of the day as part of a Make-A-Wish visit. Diagnosed with cancer when he was 8, Lucas is in remission. He played catch with Brock Purdy and was presented a 49ers jersey by George Kittle. Lucas’ visit will be featured on ESPN later this year.
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