The San Francisco 49ers stepped onto the practice field in full pads for the first time on Friday, and the intensity arrived immediately. Linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, reunited after spending a season apart, were at the center of two separate skirmishes during a session that became as memorable for its confrontations as for its big plays.

Key facts from the first padded practice

• Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw each participated in separate altercations after the 49ers put on pads for the first time in training camp.
• Acting head coach Chris Foerster told players before practice to “protect the team. Don’t get in fights.”
• Greenlaw shoved running back Christian McCaffrey to the ground early in practice, and Warner later tackled tight end Jake Tonges, triggering a scrum involving more than 10 players.
• Mike Evans caught a one-handed 5-yard touchdown against cornerback Upton Stout in a red-zone period.
• Rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling continued to impress with several catches in 11-on-11 drills.
• Rookie defensive end Romello Height flashed his quick first step in pass-rushing drills.
• Defensive tackle Alfred Collins returned in a limited capacity, while CJ West did not practice and Ricky Pearsall missed another session with knee swelling.

Warner and Greenlaw set an aggressive tone

The reunion of Warner and Greenlaw was one of the storylines entering camp. The two veteran playmakers have been a formidable tandem when healthy, but they had not played together in pads since Dec. 22, 2024. That wait may have contributed to the intensity that spilled over Friday.

Greenlaw started the fireworks. After running back Christian McCaffrey caught a short pass along the sideline, Greenlaw shoved him to the ground. McCaffrey got up and shoved Greenlaw before Warner stepped between them. What could have been a brief cooling-off period instead set the stage for a second incident a few plays later.

Warner found himself in coverage against tight end Jake Tonges, who ran a deep route. Tonges made a catch but was flagged for offensive pass interference. Warner then tackled Tonges, and the scene escalated quickly. Right tackle Colton McKivitz went after Warner, Warner grabbed McKivitz’s facemask, and Greenlaw tackled McKivitz from behind. More than 10 players joined the scrum before coaches and teammates separated everyone.

Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa downplayed any concern about the tone, saying players of Warner and Greenlaw’s caliber practice and play with the same edge. “We talk about protecting the team and stuff like that,” Odighizuwa said. “But I just know when it comes to guys like that, they have one speed. So it’s definitely hard. Obviously, be smart, but I don’t think anyone’s getting hurt. It’s football. They’ve got one speed, the way they practice, the way they play. So you can’t really argue with what they do.”

Foerster: First-day fuse is understandable

Foerster was asked whether he was surprised that Warner, a six-time team captain, and Greenlaw, an eighth-year veteran, were involved. He said competitiveness can take over regardless of experience.

“You know it doesn’t matter how veteran - how good a leader a guy is,” Foerster said. “When you’re in a competitive situation, sometimes the fuse gets flipped. It’s the first day of pads and everybody’s trying to set the tempo and set the tone. Things happen. Obviously, you don’t want that to go on every day.”

Foerster had warned the team to protect one another and avoid fights. He joked after practice about how well that message was followed, while acknowledging the fine line between intensity and recklessness.

A costly collision in an earlier practice

The physicality was not limited to Friday’s scuffles. Warner had accidentally fractured running back Jordan James’ rib on Monday. James was hurt during a drill when Warner punched at the ball, trying to force a fumble, and struck James in the side. Foerster explained that James saw the punch coming and tried to spin away, which likely made the collision worse.

“It’s one of those perfect storms,” Foerster said. “I think he saw the punch coming. There was time to see it, so he tried to do something to make him miss. I think that’s what caused” the broken rib.

The play underscored the reality of training camp, where contact is supposed to be controlled but can veer into dangerous territory in a split second. For a team with Super Bowl ambitions, keeping key players healthy while maintaining a physical identity will be a balancing act throughout August.

Mike Evans proves to be a red-zone nightmare

Warner and Greenlaw were not the only ones making an impression. Wide receiver Mike Evans, who has built a Hall of Fame-caliber resume with his ability to dominate near the end zone, showed off that skill during a red-zone period. Evans soared over cornerback Upton Stout to snag a one-handed, 5-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Brock Purdy.

The matchup was not exactly fair. Stout, listed at 5-foot-9 and 181 pounds, had sticky coverage, but he gave up eight inches and about 50 pounds to the 6-foot-5 Evans. Evans has made a career out of winning those contested throws. Of his 108 career touchdown catches, 62 have come inside the 20-yard line, 50 inside the 10 and 30 inside the 5.

“I mean, I’m 6-5,” Evans said. “I’ve got ability. I’ve done it throughout my career. … Like, when I’m covered, I’m still pretty open. If you throw the ball up with some air.”

Evans called himself a fan of boxing out defenders and competing on contested catches. The 49ers brought him in to give the offense a physically imposing target, and Friday’s practice provided a glimpse of the mismatch potential he creates for Purdy and the passing game.

Young pass catcher making a fast impression

Evans was also asked about the young receivers in the room. He immediately pointed to 2026 second-round pick De’Zhaun Stribling, who has been one of the standouts of camp so far.

“I mean, Strib,” Evans said. “He had a really good offseason, OTAs, and he’s continued that during training camp.”

Stribling has been noticeably active and sure-handed in 11-on-11 scrimmages. Receivers have rotated across all three units, and Stribling has consistently created separation. He made a high-pointed comeback catch over the middle after creating space with his route, and later backup quarterback Mac Jones fit a throw over linebacker Luke Gifford to connect with the rookie. Stribling added several more catches as the session went on.

Purdy praised Stribling’s combination of speed and strength. “I think he’s done a good job with obviously the footwork and getting off the line and stuff, but the other half of football is up top, using your hands at receiver and still trying to create separation,” Purdy said. “So having Stribling, with his speed but also his strength, that’s something that you need at receiver, and he’s shown that the first couple days here.”

Foerster also noted the 23-year-old’s maturity. “He’s learned the book, he’s learned the formations, he does things right, he makes plays, he’s fast, he’s physical. He’s got wonderful, really, really good hands.”

With Ricky Pearsall dealing with knee swelling and the receiving corps still sorting out its rotation, Stribling’s early production is an encouraging sign for the 49ers.

Romello Height gives the pass rush a spark

On the defensive side, rookie edge rusher Romello Height provided one of the practice’s most electrifying moments. During a 1-on-1 drill, Height used his quick first step to get offensive tackle Enrique Cruz Jr. off balance, then ducked under Cruz’s lunge and reached the pocket untouched. The move drew audible reactions from teammates watching nearby.

Height was drafted for exactly that kind of bend and burst off the edge. He is another older rookie at 25, and he has an opportunity to claim a role in the defensive line rotation, potentially as a designated pass rusher on obvious passing downs. The 49ers finished last in the NFL in sacks last season, so any jolt of speed is welcome.

Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris highlighted what Height brings to the depth chart. “He brings a lot of juice to us and brings some things to us that we needed, that we went out and got in the draft,” Morris said.

Height also got the only live 1-on-1 rep that All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams participated in before Williams moved to side work with Nick Bosa. Williams stonewalled Height with a patient anchor and then tapped the rookie’s helmet in acknowledgment of the effort. It was a reminder that while Height has the tools to win on many reps, he still faces a steep learning curve against elite offensive linemen.

Injury updates

The 49ers also provided some roster movement on the injury front. Defensive tackle Alfred Collins, who opened camp on the active/physically unable to perform list after offseason shoulder surgery, returned to practice in a limited capacity. Defensive tackle CJ West did not practice after being a full participant in the early non-padded session. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall again missed practice with knee swelling, and no update was provided on his timetable for a return.

The first padded session served as a reminder that the 49ers have players who refuse to take a snap off and a coaching staff hoping to ride that edge to a strong season.

Source:Yahoo Sports News