Training camp will officially start for 16 members of the San Francisco 49ers' 91-man roster on Tuesday, when this year's crop of rookies are required to report.
While some teams have their rookies and veterans report on the same day, the 49ers have given their first-year players an extra week to ready themselves away from the spotlight of open practices that will come when the vets return to the facility.
The 49ers have not released a practice schedule for the rookies, nor have they confirmed details of any media availability during the week.
But whatever their plans for the rookies, the extra week should be useful, especially to fourth-round wide receiver Jacob Cowing, who brings 4.3 speed to the position but spent portions of OTAs and minicamp watching from the sidelines with an injury.
Cowing worked out with first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and Deebo Samuel at EXOS Sports during the dead period, but the additional week will be important for him in his efforts to play catch up.
Tanner Mordecai will be the only quarterback among the group of rookies, the 49ers having signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin.
Blessed with impressive movement skills and an ability to make high-velocity throws, the former SMU quarterback has some intriguing tools, and the extra week will allow him some additional time to work with quarterbacks coach Brian Griese and the rest of the offensive staff to get better acclimated to a very difficult offense for a rookie to learn.
While it will take place behind closed doors, this week is, outside of the preseason games, Mordecai's main opportunity to impress. His reps are likely to be limited once veterans report, given he will be behind Brock Purdy, Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen in the pecking order.
The 49ers' first open practice following veterans reporting will take place on July 25.
That will be the first of 10 in total at the 49ers' performance facility, though fans who are willing to travel to Irvine, CA, will be able to see San Francisco test themselves against the New Orleans Saints.
San Francisco and New Orleans will hold join practices together in Irvine before each traveling back up to Santa Clara for a preseason game at Levi's Stadium on August 18.
That game will be one of three in which the rookies will have their chance to impress a wider audience, with many of the UDFAs likely auditioning for jobs elsewhere. The work to impress the coaches inside their own building resumes on Tuesday.
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