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SANTA CLARA — Neither ankle soreness nor cold rain kept George Kittle out of the 49ers’ practice Thursday.
Held out of Wednesday’s practice, Kittle did not appear too labored a day later, but he also didn’t exactly look pain free during the warmups.
“I feel fabulous, thanks for asking,” Kittle said as he opened his post-practice press conference.
Coach Kyle Shanahan did not express concern and fully expects Kittle to play Sunday as the 49ers (14-3) host the Green Bay Packers (14-3) in the NFC Championship Game.
#49ers George Kittle indeed practicing in rain today. Looks like Dee Ford gonna work with strength coach on side pic.twitter.com/9dwNGdDMh0
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 16, 2020
Jimmy Garoppolo had a clue when he arrived to work Thursday that Kittle, ever the prankster, was feeling like himself. Inside Garoppolo’s locker was a T-shirt displaying Kittle’s smiling mug.
A full participant in Thursday’s rain-shortened practice, Kittle was smiling afterward, despite the unusually chilly and wet weather, in the unusual situation of a mid-January practice by the 49ers. “Definitely don’t expect that in California – it was cold and rainy, but it was fun,” Kittle said. “We made the most of it and we had an efficient practice.”
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) January 16, 2020
Although the 49ers considered moving Thursday’s practice to a nearby indoor facility, they practiced amid heavy rain and 45-degree weather. Eight years ago, rain was set to fall on the 49ers’ Thursday’s practice before they hosted the NFC Championship Game, and then-coach Jim Harbaugh embraced the elements.
“I anticipate that we’ll have some precipitation today, some weather, and that will be a great thing for us,” Harbaugh said then “Admiral Bull Halsey (or Carl Nimitz) once said, ‘If you’re going to fight in the North Atlantic, then you got to prepare in the North Atlantic.’ ”
Those 2011 49ers lost 20-17 in overtime and in the rain at Candlestick Park to the New York Giants, the eventual Super Bowl champion. Sunday’s forecast for Levi’s Stadium calls for no chance of rain amid cloudy skies and a high of 62, with a low of 48.
WARNER ON LINEBACKER LONGEVITY
Second-year linebacker Fred Warner was among those stunned by this week’s retirement of Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly.
“Luke’s one of the best to ever do it. It’s a pretty big shock to me. It’s a guy I studied closely. My hat’s off to him.”
Warner has led the 49ers in tackles each of his two seasons. How long does he envision his career, considering that Kuechly retired after eight seasons like former 49ers star Patrick Willis did in 2015?
“When you’re young you think you’ll play forever. The dream is to play in the NFL and think you’ll play 20 years,” Warner said. “But when you’re in it, it’s a violent game at the end of the day, and your body takes a toll.
“I try to take it one day at a time and try not to think too far ahead, because your career could be over in a manner of seconds.”
One of Warner’s best games as a pro came in the Oct. 24 win over the Packers. He had 11 solo tackles, and his first-series strip-sack of Aaron Rodgers created a fumble that the 49ers cashed in for a touchdown to spark the 37-8 rout.
#49ers starting practice in rain.
Rained Thursday before 2011 team's NFC final. Harbuagh said: "That will be a great thing for us. Admiral Bull Halsey (or Carl Nimitz) once said, ''If you're going to fight in the North Atlantic, then you got to prepare in the North Atlantic.' " pic.twitter.com/eSpiBqbOts
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 16, 2020
LOCKER ROOM SCRUM
Over 30 media members huddled in front of Garoppolo’s locker after practice for a rare, non-podium interview, and the last time anyone attracted a scene like that in there was Colin Kaepernick during his 2016 final season. Asked how he felt about that spotlight, Garoppolo said: “It’s part of the gig, comes with the job, I guess.”
#49ers Jimmy Garoppolo sure can draw a crowd. Biggest media scrum in locker room since Colin Kaepernick in 2016 pic.twitter.com/4z6sO8hlcl
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 16, 2020
He’s done job so well on the field that the 49ers are in their first NFC Championship Game since the 2013 season, when Kaepernick made his second straight start in one.
Garoppolo said of this season: “It’s crazy to look back on it. Watching tape and things like that and see clips from October and it seems like a lifetime ago. It’s been a whirlwind of a season, especially personally to come back from the ACL and everything. It’s a great group to go to battle with and I wouldn’t ask for anyone else.”
CORNERBACK COMPETITION
Whether Emmanuel Moseley has supplanted Ahkello Witherspoon as the starting right cornerback, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is keeping mum and painting it as an ongoing battle. Said Saleh: “We’re looking at everything, letting them go through the week and competing. As we get closer we’ll have a decision.”
Saleh, understandably, would not reveal whether the 49ers would uncharacteristically move Richard Sherman out of his normal spot at left cornerback to shadow Packers star Davante Adams. Sherman said he’ll do whatever Saleh asks, although Sherman has rarely done it in his career, recalling past matchups with Julio Jones, Anquan Boldin and A.J. Green.
Saleh praised Adams as a “route runner, good hands, good double moves, he’s savvy.”
SALEH ON BROWNS
Saleh said he harbors “no disappointment” about the Browns passing him over as they instead hired Kevin Stefanski as coach Sunday. “Very grateful for the Browns and being a part of it,” Saleh said. “Just a really big fan of (Browns owner) Jimmy Haslam. They’ve got something going, they hired the right guy and have a point to do something special.”
OTHER INJURY UPDATES
Defensive end Dee Ford (hamstring, quadriceps) also returned to practice after skipping Wednesday’s session to work on limited drills. Ford was limited, as was linebacker Kwon Alexander (pectoral). Running backs Tevin Coleman (elbow) and Raheem Mostert (calf) were to participate fully in practice.
Asked if rain will impact #49ers practice plan in an hour, Shanahan said: "Looks pretty bad now. The meteorologist our guys are talking to says it will die down."
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 16, 2020
#49ers Kyle Shanahan, when asked what it would mean to become first father-son combo to coach in a Super Bowl (his dad, Mike, won back-to-back with Denver Broncos 21 years ago):
"I'm sure that would mean something. If I get there, I'll think about it."— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 16, 2020
