Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins claimed he doesn’t “go on the Internet and Google my name. There’s no point. It’s all about the 49ers.”
But Jenkins, this year’s first-round draft pick, still heard the criticism after his May 12 debut at a rookie minicamp.
“I’ve made long strides,” Jenkins said. “Obviously I had criticism when I first came in as far as being in shape. That’s irrelevant now. I’m just trying to help the team win, whether that’s playing special teams, offense or being a real good teammate.”
Monday marked the first practice of training camp for rookies, along with all four quarterbacks and select veterans. The first full-squad workout is set for Friday, a day after all veterans must report.
“It’s good for us to have like an extra week of practice, get back into the playbook and back into football shape,” Jenkins added. “The feeling of a football camp is definitely here, though.”
Jenkins took part throughout a “pretty intense” offseason workout program and signed his four-year, $6.95 million contract last month.
Still on his to-do list: Take up Jerry Rice on an invitation to run his famed training hill in San Carlos. Those plans are on hold during camp, though Jenkins hopes to “one day” get in contact with Rice.
Jenkins instead has sought advice from in-house veterans Randy Moss and Mario Manningham on how to prepare his body for camp. “My mindset has really been a lot stronger since the first day of rookie minicamp,” Jenkins added. “From this day forward, all the way into January or February, it’s going to be a long season, and my mind is ready for it.”
– Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. gave himself an A-plus upon his long-awaited return to the practice field. “This right here was really the test,” said Ginn, who missed the team’s offseason workouts because of lingering leg injuries that also sidelined him in the NFC Championship game.
Ginn’s objective Monday: “Come in early with the young guys, fly around and do certain things out there to see where I’m at.” His sure-handed approach on punt returns was sorely missed in the NFC final, where replacement Kyle Williams botched two returns in a 20-17 defeat to the New York Giants. Ginn appears stronger in the upper body and said he’s tacked on 10 pounds to his now 185-pound frame.
– Defensive back Darcel McBath, a 2009 second-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos, signed a one-year contract. He adds depth to a secondary that is without safety Dashon Goldson, who has yet to sign his $6.2 million franchise tender.
Listed as a cornerback by the 49ers, McBath played safety his first two seasons with the Broncos under defense backs coach Ed Donatell, who now holds the same position with the 49ers. McBath said he’s fully recovered from a broken arm he suffered in his only game last December with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
– Linebacker Darius Fleming (torn anterior cruciate ligament) was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list, and guard Joe Looney (left foot) and running back Jewel Hampton (knees) were put on the active/non-football-injury list. All remain eligible to play their rookie seasons.
– All four quarterbacks are already in camp, including Alex Smith, who tied for 54th in last weekend’s American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament. “Individually we’re all working to try to be the starter, because you’d be cheating yourself if you weren’t,” second-year quarterback Scott Tolzien said. “As a team, you’re just working to get better each day and helping guys out at your position group and other positions.”
– Rookie running back LaMichael James said he’s made “great progression” with the 49ers playbook, a byproduct of his study habits as well as the tutoring of quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running backs coach Tom Rathman. League rules made James miss most of the offseason program while Oregon’s school year concluded. He still hasn’t met starter Frank Gore but has traded text messages with Brandon Jacobs.
