49ers’ Ji’Ayir Brown praises Raheem Morris’ defense, pans past schemes

SANTA CLARA – Ji’Ayir Brown found himself in man-to-man coverage against a deep over route. In a flash, he raced to his right, chased a tight end across the end zone and broke up Brock Purdy’s potential touchdown pass.

“I ran it down,” Brown said, “and made a play on the ball for the team.”

It’s a simple explanation for the 49ers’ simplified defensive scheme under coordinator Raheem Morris. Brown, a fourth-year safety, served Monday as Morris’ most vocal proponent among many this training camp.

“Raheem is dope, bro. Super dope. He wants football players. Previous schemes we’ve been in hadn’t wanted that,” Brown said. “Raheem wants you to play football. He wants instinctive players. He wants guys that can play ball and read the quarterback.”

The 49ers had no interceptions through seven games last season, just one through 10 games, then finished with a total of six, including two apiece from Brown and Deommodore Lenoir.

“The scheme fits all of us,” Brown added. “It’s been great to see us transition into this explosive, D-back unit.”

He’s not wrong, at least in terms of the secondary making more plays in camp. That goes for Lenoir and fellow cornerbacks Renardo Green, Upton Stout and Jack Jones, the latter of whom sat out Monday’s two-hour session due to general soreness.

At safety, Brown and Marques Sigle have handled most of the first-team reps, especially since Malik Mustapha strained a hamstring in last Monday’s second practice of camp.

Morris is the 49ers’ fifth defensive coordinator in as many years, following DeMeco Ryans (2022), Steve Wilks (2023), Nick Sorensen (2024), and Robert Saleh (2025).

Morris refers to Brown by his nickname, Tig, and said all the safeties have been impressive in terms of defending passes and communicating with All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. “I’m very impressed with the guys being able to pick it up and how much they love football,” Morris said.

“It’s my favorite camp, honestly, since I’ve been here,” Brown said. “I love the scheme. I love the teammates I’ve got. I’m comfortable in Year 4. And I’m having fun, bro. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun.

“(The scheme) fits more into my strong suits, reading the quarterback, being reactive, letting my instincts take over. That’s what I love about this scheme more than the last schemes I’ve been in; Wilks’ was a lot similar (in 2023).”

Brown, a 2023 third-round pick, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and not trying to focus on that. “This game is so detailed and one-play focused, your mind has to be on the now,” Brown added.

EVANS JOINS INJURY LIST

Wide receiver Mike Evans missed his first practice because of a quadriceps strain and is day-to-day. He emerged to watch the latter portion of practice and appeared in good spirits, as he was earlier Monday on KNBR 680-AM when he said: “I’ve been around some great teams. This stacks up there with one of the best teams I’ve been a part of. Obviously we have to go prove it and we’re putting in work to do that.”

With De’Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) and Christian Kirk (calf) still out and Ricky Pearsall done for this season, the wide receiver corps was led by Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, Junior Bergen and Jordan Watkins, who made the final catch of the two-hour session.

KAMARA ACL CONFIRMED

Defensive end Mikael Kamara, an undrafted rookie from Indiana, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was carted off from Saturday’s practice. Kamara, 24, played at James Madison for four years before transferring in 2024 to Indiana.

Titus Leo, a fourth-year journeyman, made his practice debut Monday as the defensive line welcomed back Romello Height (elbow) and C.J. West (undisclosed) from minor issues.

WARNER BATTLES ON

Warner avoided a serious injury an hour into practice and blocked out pain after apparently banging knees on a Kyle Juszczyk reception. Warner stayed in for the next play, then after a five-minute break on the sideline, returned to action, including on field-goal defense.

CHAMPIONSHIP COACH SPEAKS

Coach Kyle Shanahan quickly addressed the team after practice before introducing Mike Brown, coach of the NBA champion New York Knicks and father of 49ers defensive quality control coach Cameron Brown.

“That was so cool, just talking about the championship teams he’s been on and how each one had a standard,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said of Brown, an assistant on the Warriors’ 2017, ’18 and ’22 championship teams.

“… That spoke really well to this organization because we’ve always talked about having a standard here,” Juszczyk added. “We have such a great one that when our head coach goes down, everyone understands what that standard is, what is expected from the guy next to them.”

Shanahan has yet to miss a practice because of his concussion from a July 14 car crash, although he continues to watch from afar. He made his first team address Saturday, reminding them to protect the team and practice smart, a day after camp’s first fight.

RED ZONE DRILLS

Without Evans available to replicate Saturday’s goal-line grab, the 49ers didn’t look as dangerous in Monday’s red zone drills, which did end with a touchdown pass from Mac Jones to Watkins. Brown and Ephesians Prysock broke up passes in the 10-play drill, and touchdown runs were scored by Christian McCaffrey and newcomer Khalil Herbert.

KICKER UPDATE

Eddy Piñeiro made all his field-goal attempts before missing wide right from beyond 50 yards. Rewarded in March with the biggest contract (four years, $17 million) of his career, Piñeiro said: “I feel there’s always pressure. I thank God I got the contract I got, but none of that matters. If I keep making kicks, I’ll be here, and if I don’t make kicks, I won’t be here. … It’s just part of the process. I wish I would have known that faster in my career.”

EXTRA POINTS

Defensive linemen Nick Bosa (knee) and Alfred Collins (shoulder) remain out of team drills. … Former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith attended practice ahead of again serving as an ESPN studio analyst this season. … Juszczyk, in his 14th season, supported a revised camp schedule that has instituted “jog-through” days. “Three days of full-speed football, in today’s age, I don’t know if that makes sense because you never do that in-season,” Juszczyk said.