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The San Francisco 49ers are skipping mandatory minicamp. Head coach Kyle Shanahan canceled it as a reward for the team’s perfect attendance at OTAs this week, along with their strong performance throughout the offseason program, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported Wednesday.
That puts training camp – expected to begin in late July – as the next item on the calendar.
Under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), every team gets a voluntary, nine-week offseason program broken into three phases. Phase three includes 10 days of organized team activities, or OTAs, plus the option to hold one mandatory minicamp. The key word there is option – teams aren’t required to hold it, and no live contact is permitted during any part of phase three regardless.
The league’s offseason workout calendar came out back in April, with all 32 teams listed as having minicamp dates. San Francisco won’t be using theirs.
The Niners head into camp with a clean bill of health – at least on paper.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was notably absent from OTAs, though that absence appears to have been accounted for given how long he’s been away from the team. General manager John Lynch said in January that Aiyuk had played his last snap as a 49er. He’s still technically on the roster, but San Francisco has moved on. Reports this week also indicate a warrant has been issued for Aiyuk’s arrest in California related to a speeding incident.
Staying healthy is the priority heading into 2025. Last season was brutal on that front – quarterback Brock Purdy, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, tight end George Kittle, defensive end Nick Bosa, and linebacker Fred Warner all missed significant time due to injury, and it cost the team dearly.
Getting through an offseason without drama – Aiyuk situation aside – is at least a start.
