The Good and Not So Good from Day 7 of 49ers Training Camp 2023

SANTA CLARA -- Here's who stood out Day 7 of 49ers training camp 2023. Keep in mind, the 49ers wore pads but did not do 1-on-1 drills.

THE GOOD

1. WR Brandon Aiyuk.

Caught another five passes today, and now has a whopping 23 catches through seven practices while former All Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel has just 10. Which means Aiyuk clearly has surpassed Samuel as the No. 1 option in the 49ers passing game. Which is fair, because Aiyuk is a better route runner and has longer arms and better hand-eye coordination than Samuel. Aiyuk is every quarterback's favorite receiver.

2. LB Dee Winters.

Dropped deep in zone coverage, leaped and picked off a pass over the middle from Trey Lance. Winters looked exactly like Dre Greenlaw on this play. Winters is making big strides every day and might just end up starting this season. The 49ers are just phenomenal at drafting and developing linebackers.

3. WR Danny Gray.

Made a leaping catch with his hands on a poorly-thrown pass over the middle from Sam Darnold. Gray might be the fastest player on the team, but to make the final roster he's going to have to make difficult catches like this one more often. So far, so good.

4. RB Jordan Mason.

Started at running back because Christian McCaffrey had an off day and Elijah Mitchell is injured again (more on him in a minute). Mason ran extremely hard as he always does, but he also caught a couple passes because Brock Purdy loves dinking and dunking to running backs. First, Mason caught a screen pass and burst upfield for 10 yards. Next, Mason caught a 2-yard check down pass on 3rd and 9, made one defender miss and picked up the first down. Mason would start for so many teams in the NFL including the Rams and the Cardinals. On the 49ers, he's third string when everyone is healthy.

5. TE Charlie Woerner.

Actually caught a pass. I can't remember the last time I saw him do that. What an accomplishment.

6. CB Samuel Womack.

Took reps at left cornerback with the first-string defense and broke up a deep pass intended for Deebo Samuel. Womack has surpassed third-year cornerback Ambry Thomas (more on him in a minute).

7. TE Brayden Willis.

Got targeted four times. Has become a favorite target of both Lance and Darnold. I haven't seen a rookie tight end get targeted this frequently in camp since George Kittle in 2017. Willis is decidedly better than third-round pick Cam Latu at this time.

8. LT Jaylon Moore.

Left yesterday's with a scary-looking knee injury, but it's just a bone bruise according to Kyle Shanahan, which is good news, because offensive tackle is by far the thinnest position on the team. Without Moore and Trent Williams, who had the day off, the 49ers starting left tackle was Leroy Watson, who probably won't make the 53-man roster.

9. HC Kyle Shanahan.

Finally stopped giving Brandon Allen reps during 11 on 11s. Congratulations, everyone. We did it.

THE NOT SO GOOD

1. RB Elijah Mitchell.

Missed his second practice in a row with an abductor strain. Mitchell is an excellent running back when healthy, but he can't seem to stay healthy for more than a month at a time. Mason is more reliable.

2. LG Aaron Banks.

Missed practice with a concussion. Jason Poe and Nick Zakelj split reps in his place because Jon Feliciano also is out with a shoulder injury.

3. CB Ambry Thomas.

Gave up back-to-back catches -- a 20-yarder to Jauan Jennings and a 15-yarder to Tay Martin. Thomas shouldn't make the team. He simply isn't good enough.