MELBOURNE – The 49ers feel they’ve had a successful training camp and a productive week of practice in Melbourne, and they’re finally ready to kick off the regular season.
After Friday’s historic game in Melbourne, San Francisco will return to the United States and continue its schedule with the Miami Dolphins up next in Week 2. The 49ers enter the season with an almost complete roster, including key players returning from injuries that sidelined them last season, such as Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, who missed the entire 2025 season.
Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris and Offensive Coordinator Klay Kubiak also spoke with the media, and both coaches confirmed that the team is ready and excited to finally get the season underway.
Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris Q&A with the media:
Where is CB Renardo Green in his recovery and getting back out there?
“Renardo will be out there in practice today. We’ll definitely see where he’s at. Obviously, we’ve seen Bosa before we left. We got a chance to see him a little bit throughout the process. We’ll see more of him today, but Renardo’s kind of, I don’t want to say a step behind, but he’s right there in that mix. We’ll get a chance to see him, watch him practice and do some different things as well.”
Same question for S Malik Mustapha.
“Malik’s been out there the last couple of weeks practicing. I shouldn’t say weeks, last couple of days. It feels like weeks. Last couple of days practicing. Obviously, those things will play out as we go and then we’ve still got practice today, practice tomorrow and Friday, and we’ve got a Saturday walk-through. So, these guys got a bunch of time to get there.”
You mentioned that you already anticipate Nick playing, but how did he get through last week’s practice and then the travel? Were there any effects on his body?
“That’s definitely a Nick question, but Nick’s a pro at everything he does. The ultimate pro. He’s got some calming features to him that really, he’s able to communicate at a very high level, which I’m sure he’s communicating with Kyle. Obviously those guys will handle all those situations right now, but when you talk about me anticipating him being out there, I definitely anticipate that because of who he is and what he’s done and how he’s going about his process to get ready for this.”
What are some of the challenges when it comes to instilling in your defensive backs going up against the likes of Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua and Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams, the talent that they have? What are some of those messages that you’re telling them?
“Yeah, let’s just cut to the chase. They’re pain in the asses, right? And you’ve got to go out there and compete. I was around Puka when he got drafted very early. Davante has been a pain in the ass for a very long time in the National Football League for all of us. These guys are well coached, they play the game the right way and it’ll be certainly a big challenge for all of our guys to go out there and play against these guys.”
When you coach and teach your team defense, what’s more important, technique or attitude?
“A little bit of both. It’d be hard to say what’s more important. When you’re on defense, you’ve got the ability to go out there and really play with a certain standard. And our standard is our standard and that will never change as long as Kyle Shanahan is the head coach. And then the other thing, when you’re talking about the technique and things of those, technique and opportunity meet and that’s how you make plays in almost every sport that I’ve ever participated in or coached in or been a part of. So, I think all those things come into play at different levels and different times.”
Offensive Coordinator Klay Kubiak Q&A with the media:
How are you assessing the left guard situation? Do you have to factor in that it is those kinds of guys on the other side in terms of wanting someone with some experience in playing in the league? Or how did you assess that?
“I don’t think so. I think you play who you feel most comfortable with. I think I said this a few weeks ago though, it’s like, when you look at guard, there’s never any reason why guys can’t rotate as well. I mean, multiple guys can play in the game and we’ll see how the game goes with who we start and kind of how we want to do the rotation. But you’ve got to get a feel for how the game’s going and how guys are handling stuff. So, nothing’s settled, nothing’s determined right now. It’s not going to be based on experience necessarily. We’re going to go with who we think should start based on who’s had the best camp and kind of where they’re at and see how the game goes.”
Do you plan on rotating during the game or you have no idea?
“I don’t know. We’re going to have multiple guys up and multiple guys ready to go. So, whether they rotate or not, that’ll be determined how the game goes.”
It’s QB Brock Purdy’s fifth year in the league, and I just wondered how impressive has his growth been? It feels like he’s been labeled before as a system quarterback. It feels like that’s potentially very unfair. What has his growth been like and what development are you hoping to see from him?
“Yeah, I think you’ve seen a guy really in his fifth year who’s just kind of, in a lot of ways, mastered his craft in terms of his preparation, the way he approaches the offseason, the way he seeks to improve and get better every day. He’s very confident in himself and kind of his process, and that’s what to me is really jumping out this year is Brock’s process and the way he gets ready for a game, the way he handles an offseason. He has his way of doing it, and it works, and he’s really owned it. In terms of being in our system, I think he has really grown to be really comfortable. Whether he’s mastered things, I don’t know if he would say that, but he’s very comfortable in a lot of things, and he’s very capable of being challenged with new things, and he wants new things. And guys like that are a lot of fun to work with because they know what they’re good at, but they want to be challenged with new things and they can handle it. And Brock’s ready to go on and take on a new season. So, I’m real excited about where he’s at and looking forward to seeing how he plays.”
What’s it been like getting WR Deebo Samuel Sr. back in the mix?
“It’s been great. I’ve loved having Deebo back. I’ve loved his attitude, loved the way he’s been working at practice every day, being willing to help our team in any way he needs to. And, you know, we got to get Deebo the ball. We got to get him his touches like he’s going to get because he can affect the game in a lot of ways. And so, looking forward to seeing what Deebo can do.”
What has WR Mike Evans brought to your group?
“A lot. He’s obviously the veteran presence, he’s seen a lot of football and he’s a very savvy, confident veteran football player who adds a lot of leadership qualities to our room. And he’s a matchup issue. And he’s a guy who, to me, what I’ve been most impressed about Mike is, Mike doesn’t ask a lot of questions. He doesn’t overthink a lot of things. Give me the route, tell me the play, I’m going to find a way to get it done. And I really respect that about Mike. He doesn’t overthink it. And he’s a competitor. And so, I really like what we’ve been seeing. He’s been out there practicing these past couple of days, looks good. And like everyone else, looking forward to the season and seeing how he can grow in our offense.”
How often do you see him next to Stribling, either on the practice field or meeting room, locker room? And do you see those two spending a lot of time together?
“I wouldn’t say I’ve noticed it a ton. It hasn’t stood out to me, but I know they have been working together and I know Strib has been eating up whatever information he can get from Mike, from everybody really. Strib’s been absorbing a lot, but I wouldn’t say anything stood out to me in terms of their relationship.”
Does his maturity level stand out?
“That’s what we’ve said kind of all along. It’s one of the reasons why we drafted him is kind of how he is, how he’s carried himself, the way he was in college, the way he played, his character on tape in college is what we loved. And it’s only shown up here since he’s been here. He’s a very mature, smart young man and he’s a good football player. He’s got a bright future.”
RB Kaelon Black had a pretty strong preseason. What do you expect from him and his impact come game time on Friday?
“Yeah, he did have a good preseason, had a really good training camp. We expect Kaelon to go, when he gets in there and gets his touches, to run very hard like he’s been doing, to add some explosiveness to our run game. And I expect Kaelon to play like he’s been playing all preseason, to be on his details, to be on it in pass protection, in the pass game, and go out there and execute and add a spark to our offense when his number’s called upon.”
Do you see that maturity in Kaelon the same with Stribling?
“100%. I think those two guys are really in the same bucket for me. It’s why they’re ready to go out there and help our offense right now. It’s how they’re wired and they’re ready to go.”
How has TE George Kittle looked in practice over the past couple of weeks?
“Yeah, he’s looked good. I’m super impressed with how he’s looked considering the injury he had and how quickly he got back out on the field and just committed to his rehab. And it’s been pretty cool to see Kittle out there looking like himself to me and looking fresh. And how that affects him on game day and how much, what the workload is, that’ll be determined, but he looks good to me. He’s practicing full speed. He’s getting a ton of reps. So, I feel like we’re in good shape.”
So, your expectation is that he’ll play?
“Yeah, we’ve got to see how it gets through the rest of the week. We got two more practices, but Kittle looks good.”
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