The 49ers aren’t pushing the envelope with injuries early in training camp. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead won’t participate in Saturday’s session with back irritation according to reporters on site. Jalen Hurd and Jordan Reed will also be eased back into practice after missing all of 2019 with injuries.
Armstead earned a five-year, $85 million deal in the offseason after leading the 49ers with 10.0 sacks last year. It’s not a surprise they’re being extremely cautious with a player they expect to be a big part of their defensive line. This will be something to keep an eye on, but there’s no reason for any major concern.
Hurd is entering his second season with a chance to have a significant impact on the 49ers’ receiving corps. He had a strong first preseason game last year and looked to be on his way to carving out a role in the offense as a rookie. A back injury ahead of the second preseason contest wound up sidelining him for all of the 2019 campaign. Putting him back into football activities slowly tracks with how cautious the team was with Hurd last season. He’ll need to ramp up to full speed eventually, but there’s no need to rush it on Day 1 of camp.
Reed is in a similar spot after missing the 2019 season with a concussion he suffered during the preseason. Injuries have defined Reed’s career, so an already conservative training staff will surely continue taking extra precautions with him.
Injuries and injury reports are always worth tracking, especially during a pandemic when there were no offseason activities. There’s no reason for panic yet from an injury standpoint, but it’ll be worth keeping a close eye on with games just under a month away.