The San Francisco 49ers got back on the field this week as training camp officially kicked off. The first week has been up and down, as the 49ers saw wide receiver Jacob Cowing go down with a hamstring injury.
While that was a tough blow, considering Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk aren't practicing, the 49ers seem to have some other guys stepping up on the other side of the ball. That includes safety Ji'Ayir Brown, who grabbed an interception during Friday's practice accoridng to David Lombardi of the San Francisco Standard.
Longest 49ers practice so far. First fight. Very quick scuffle between Jauan Jennings and Deommodore Lenoir. Practice moved on. No Brock Purdy (personal reason), both Mac Jones and Tanner Mordecai made some nice throws and also threw an INT each. Ji’Ayir Brown and Jalen Graham…
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) July 25, 2025
49ers S Ji’Ayir Brown Secured an Int in Friday’s Practice
Brown's pick came against Mac Jones and is a nice step forward for the 25-year-old. When speaking to the media on Thursday, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh made it clear that both safety spots were up for grabs.
Brown and Jason Pinnock have been the starters to start training camp, with guys like Marques Sigle and Richie Grant as two other guys to keep an eye on per Rob Lowder.
The safety room is in flux for the 49ers due to Malik Mustapaha rehabbing his way back from a torn ACL. He's expected to miss the start of the season, and San Francisco is looking for someone to step up. They also had Talanoa Hufanga leave in free agency to sign a three-year, $39 million deal with the Denver Broncos.
So with two spots up in the air, Brown is looking to take advantage and carve out a role for himself. San Francisco snagged Brown in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, and he's already been a solid option on the backend.
In 32 games (18 starts), he has secured 112 total tackles, 10 pass breakups, and three interceptions. Last season, he recorded a 64.8 overall grade (78th among 171 graded safeties) and 69.5 coverage grade (35th among 171 graded safeties), but had a disappointing 53.6 run-defense grade (150th among 171 graded safeties) on PFF.
Pinnock will certainly push Brown, as he has 39 starts under his belt as well. He also has a history with Saleh going back to their time with the New York Jets. Pinnock has notched 227 total tackles, 12 TFLs, 11 QB hits, 11 pass deflections, five forced fumbles, 6.5 sacks, and two picks in his career.
With both free and strong safety open on the depth chart, there's a pathway to both guys starting in Week 1, and Brown's play on Friday put him in the right direction in terms of impressing the coaching staff.