SANTA CLARA, Calif. — They don’t keep score in joint practices yet everyone wants to know which team won.
John Lynch remembers those team-on-team controlled scrimmages as Broncos safety from 2004-07. And he’s watched his share of joint practices through a more discerning lens as he moves into his 9th season as the San Francisco 49ers.
So, John, one more time. Who won the joint practice between your former Broncos and current 49ers on the sun-baked practice fields outside Levi’s Stadium here Thursday?
“What I do know is we’ve gotten smarter by having one day,’’ Lynch said in an interview with 9NEWS. “Because it used to be, who won? And both teams would think they won. Both coaches would say, ‘You’re going to let them do that to you? Let’s go get ‘em tomorrow.’ And the second day all it is is fighting.
“So we decided, and the Broncos decided, let’s do one. I think it was crisp. I think both teams had their moments. I watched more of our offense. I thought upfront your D-line was really good. We made some plays, they made some plays.”
The general consensus was the Broncos were the dominant team early in the 2 ½-hour session, both on offense and defense, while the 49ers “won” the final two team periods. Let’s start at the beginning. First play, Broncos’ running back J.K. Dobbins had a nice gain as the offensive line pushed around the 49ers’ defensive front.
“There’s obviously things we need to clean up but I thought we got on them right from the jump,’’ said Broncos and former 49ers’ right tackle Mike McGlinchey. “I thought we played real physical football. I thought Bo (Nix) handled us great getting us in and out of the huddle. I thought the operation was great given that those speakers served as an away game atmosphere. I thought it was a good day. I thought obviously so much left to improve on. But it was a great first step.”
Yes, unlike during Broncos’ training camp practices, where music is played only during the team stretch, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has music blaring throughout the practice, beginning to end. The music was sweet to the Denver D’s front, which wasn’t giving Christian McCaffrey any room to run.
“I think they came out ready to roll, to compete,’’ 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy said. “You could feel them. They were in the backfield a couple times.’’
However, according to Matt Barrows, who covers the 49ers for The Athletic, Purdy after beginning 3 of 8 in the joint practice, finished 16 of 25, including late touchdown throws to Ricky Pearsall, who beat Jahdae Barron on a 50-50 ball in the end zone, and McCaffrey, who was left open during a red-zone period.
Also, the Broncos’ offense had trouble keeping San Francisco edge rusher Nick Bosa away from Nix.
“A respectful defense, they’ve been really good for a long time now,’’ Nix of the 49ers. “A new [defensive coordinator] but they didn’t really change much. They go back with a lot of good players. It was good to see difference pace, different speed, different scheme. I think it was good for us.”
Broncos’ backup defensive lineman Matt Henningsen went down with what appeared to be a right ankle injury early in the practice Thursday. There is concern Henningsen suffered an Achilles tear, according to a source. He was helped into the 49ers’ outdoor weight room where the Broncos seemed to have their makeshift trainers’ room set up.
A sixth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin in 2022, Henningsen played in all 17 games for the Broncos in both 2022 and 2023. Upgrades along the defensive line last year pushed Henningsen to the practice squad last year and he re-upped with the team again this year.
McCaffrey was asked by 9NEWS cameraman and intrepid reporter Jeff Dressel if playing against his hometown Broncos still generates a special excitement.
“Tell ya what, it’s nostalgic looking at your 9NEWS shirt,’’ McCaffrey said. “I grew up, man, coming home from a snowy day. Throwing on 9NEWS to see if your school’s cancelled. It’s cool to see familiar faces you grew up with. Suzy (Wargin) and different people. No, it’s definitely nostalgic even just seeing the logo and obviously so many familiar faces on that team, it’s fun.”
Nix and the Broncos’ first-team offense finished up the joint practice with the ball at his own 40, first down, trailing 24-21, 1:10 remaining. The running back the Broncos used during the sequence? Tyler Badie. The long-time practice squad back seems to be ahead of Audric Estime and Blake Watson at the running back position and Thursday he was often ahead of presumed No. 3 back Jaleel McLaughlin. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey are the top two Broncos’ running backs.
Badie was about to receive serious playing time last year but a back injury in game 4 against the Jets knocked him out the rest of the regular season. He did dress at Estime’s expense for the playoff game at Buffalo. Clearly, Payton hasn’t forgotten Badie.
“He does a lot of things well,’’ Payton said. “He’s someone who can play on third down. He is I would say a very good receiver at that position, and he’s right there in the thick of it as we start evaluating that group of runners who are all competing for a spot or two.”
Starting safety Brandon Jones didn’t participate in the practice Thursday. It remains to be seen whether he plays in the preseason game Saturday. Payton wouldn’t reveal the reason for Jones’ absence but the safety has periodically dealt with soft-tissue leg issues since he signed with the Broncos last year. …
Neither of the Broncos starting inside linebackers – Alex Singleton (broken thumb) and Dre Greenlaw (quad) – practiced Thursday. Both should be ready to go next week.
