By admin 
Gracen Halton put his stamp on Thursday’s training camp practice early.
The 49ers’ rookie defensive lineman stood out in individual pass-rushing drills early in the session, decisively beating veteran offensive linemen Jake Brendel, Robert Jones and Connor Colby to reach the quarterback. He was similarly disruptive in full-team drills, helping collapse the pocket and disrupt quarterbacks’ timing.
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“He’s really feisty,” defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said.
The feistiness was evident in his celebrations after each rep, as he shouted to himself and exchanged high-fives with teammates. Halton recently returned after missing time with a bone bruise in his knee that he suffered on the first day of training camp.
“He was off the field for a couple days and coming back, (he’s) really into it. Kinda fired up. Sometimes too fired up. He’s one of those guys, sometimes you gotta help them slow down a little bit,” Morris said.
Halton, a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma, was considered one of the best interior pass rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft and a natural fit for San Francisco’s attacking scheme under defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. He had 8.5 career sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in four seasons. He’s been compared to teammate Osa Odighizuwa because he is similarly undersized but wins with explosiveness.
In the long term, Halton could carve out a pass-rushing role alongside second-year defensive tackles Alfred Collins and C.J. West, who are more traditional run-stuffing defensive tackles.
“When he played in college, we noticed the initial quickness, the movement. We noticed the get off,” Morris said. “He does a lot of things that we coveted. So a lot of the things that we ask him to do are the things we saw on tape, the things that we require.”
49ers rookies showing signs of reinforcing the defense
Halton is one of four rookies brought in to help strengthen the defense. Early in training camp, all four have shown why they were added.
Halton appears on track to contribute to the pass-rushing rotation as a rookie. Romello Height has been one of the team’s top defensive ends amid injuries at the position. Ephesians Prysock, the lengthy cornerback from Washington, has been tight in coverage and impressed Morris. Linebacker Jaden Dugger has received extensive work as a reserve at strong-side linebacker, weak-side linebacker and along the line of scrimmage.
While the 49ers continue to deal with injuries — they were missing 16 players from their 90-man roster on Thursday — the development of the rookie class has become increasingly important.
San Francisco added Height to provide speed off the edge as a pass rusher, filling a role similar to Bryce Huff, who retired in the offseason. But Height has also been used as a stand-up rusher in five-man fronts, sharing the assignment with linebackers.
Morris said general manager John Lynch and the front office thought Height could do more than just rush the passer based on his work at Texas Tech when he had 11.5 sacks last year.
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“On tape, you saw the designated pass rusher role that we lost from the year before,” Morris said. “But then there were some further thoughts, some things that we could possibly do as a fever backer (outside linebacker), spinner or whatever it is, being able to get him out in different roles.”
Prysock has also flown under the radar.
He broke up consecutive passes to end Wednesday’s full-team drills and again played tight coverage Thursday, forcing an incompletion intended for receiver Jordan Watkins. Prysock has mostly worked with the third-team defense behind starters Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green and backups Jack Jones and Darrell Luter Jr., but he could climb the depth chart in the coming weeks.
Prysock, and the rest of the rookies, should benefit from the upcoming preseason schedule. The 49ers will likely limit their starters’ playing time, giving reserves extended opportunities against the Titans, Chargers and Raiders. Prysock also could face stronger competition than the receivers currently at the bottom of the 49ers’ depth chart because of injuries.
“You really see it in those competitive moments,” Morris said. “… Those are the steps you want to see made by young rookies. It’s just a matter of how fast they can do those things before you make a decision on who’s on your football team.”
Odds and ends from practice
Quarterback Brock Purdy was sharp for a second consecutive day. He connected on deep throws to reserve receivers Malik Turner and KhaDarel Hodge and was efficient throughout full-team drills.
The competition at left guard appears unsettled. Colby appeared to lose first-team reps, with Robert Jones working alongside the starters. Jones struggled during both individual and team periods. Rookie Carver Willis could have an opportunity to earn significant playing time when he returns from a concussion.
Odighizuwa, rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling and linebacker Dre Greenlaw were back in pads. Odighizuwa and Greenlaw sat out Wednesday’s practice as a precaution because of “general soreness.” Stribling returned to individual drills only after missing time with hamstring tightness.
Nick Bosa missed his second consecutive practice and was not seen on the side field, where rehabbing players typically work.
Receivers Mike Evans (quad strain) and Christian Kirk (calf strain) remained out. Backup running backs Jordan James (fractured rib) and Kaelon Black (adductor) were also sidelined. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk (broken finger) did not practice. Safety Malik Mustapha (hamstring) remained out. Offensive linemen Nick Zakelj (elbow), Carver Willis (concussion), Vederian Lowe (high ankle sprain) and Brett Toth (undisclosed) were also absent.
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