49ers OTAs were public today, here's what we learned

It's not quite like real football, but it's close. And the 49ers' first week of organized team activities were viewable to the media on Tuesday.

We should probably kick off Niner Noise's inaugural first-day review of San Francisco 49ers organized team activities (OTAs) with a much-needed disclaimer:

Don't read too much into anything this time of year.

OTAs are, for all intents and purposes, glorified backyard football where players don't wear pads, it's 7-on-7 drills at max, there's no tackling or contact and concrete conclusions shouldn't be made.

That said, we have to overreact, right?

The Niners kicked off OTAs on Monday, but Tuesday's session was open to the media. Based on the various reports and observations, plus some comments from head coach Kyle Shanahan, here's what we learned.

49ers news from OTAs: Trey Lance starts over Sam Darnold, sped up his throwing motion

With presumed starting quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) still on the mend, the offseason competition between Trey Lance and Sam Darnold will be one to watch.

Almost reinforcing the "don't read into this" statement, Lance managed to start off the throwing session first before giving way to Darnold, meaning he's unofficially ahead of the latter on the depth chart.

Shanahan told reporters not to read too much into that, though, as the first-team reps between Lance and Darnold are likely to even themselves out.

More importantly, however, it appears as if the reported tweaks Lance has made to his throwing motion during the offseason are noticeable:

For what it's worth, and according to reports, Lance and Darnold each went 11-of-15 during 7-on-7 practices.

Third-string quarterback Brandon Allen, meanwhile, went 6-of-6.

Kyle Shanahan 'hoping for Week 1' with Brock Purdy

Speaking of Purdy, his offseason recovery from UCL surgery appears to be going well.

Yes, there were and are some doubts whether or not Purdy would be a full-go by the time the regular season begins, but Shanahan told reporters after practice that Week 1 is very much in play:

It'll be one thing for Purdy to be able to throw again, but getting his arm strength back and into regular-season form will be the greater challenge even with him scheduled to start throwing next week.

Read More: Here's what you'll want to watch during 49ers OTAs.

At least Shanahan's latest comments are encouraging.

49ers kicker controversy

Earlier in the offseason, San Francisco traded with the Carolina Panthers for veteran kicker Zane Gonzalez, likely as insurance with the knowledge Robbie Gould wasn't going to return after hitting free agency.

Then, in quite a shocking move, the 49ers used a third-round pick in the NFL Draft on Michigan kicker Jake Moody.

And it appears the two have created quite the controversy:

OK, in all seriousness, Moody will be the guy for the Niners unless he wholly bottoms out during training camp or suffers an injury.

Still, it's fun to talk a little about kickers during OTAs for a change (OK, it's not).

OTAs resume for San Francisco on Thursday, May 25.

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