SANTA CLARA – Wide receiver DeAndre Smelter was bumped up to the first team on Friday while veteran Torrey Smith took the day off to deal with some leg tightness.
Smelter made a deep catch along the right sideline against Jimmie Ward on a well-thrown pass from Blaine Gabbert early in practice. But it was another play during a red-zone session that might have provided Smelter with his best learning experience.
Smelter attempted to beat Tramaine Brock with a double move. Gabbert lofted a 22-yard pass toward the end zone, but Brock made the interception of the underthrown pass. It was a play that Smelter admits he should have prevented.
“I can’t let him make the interception, first of all,” Smelter said. “I got to try to break it up. I did (try), but I got to do better at that.”
Smelter is in position to earn a spot on the 49ers’ 53-man roster. The 49ers lost some of their depth at wide receiver on Thursday when Eric Rogers sustained a torn left ACL during a non-contact play during a special-teams drill.
Smelter sat out his entire rookie season a year ago as he rehabbed from a torn ACL sustained in his final season at Georgia Tech. Smelter and Rogers are roommates during training camp.
“I just told him this first couple weeks are pretty much the most important weeks,” Smelter said. “And if he needs anything or help in the rehab process or somebody to talk to, I’ve been there, so I’ll help him out.”
QB update: Gabbert completed 5 of 7 passes during team drills with Brock’s interception. Colin Kaepernick completed 4 of 7 pass attempts. Kaepernick’s best throw came during a 7-on-7 period when he lofted a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Garrett Celek over Ward in the back left corner of the end zone. Kaepernick also hooked up with DiAndre Campbell for a 15-yard touchdown pass against Keith Reaser in a red-zone drill.
This ‘n’ that: Newly acquired cornerback Cleveland Wallace, whom the 49ers claimed off waivers from the Houston Texans, took his conditioning test but did not participate in practice. He is expected to practice on Saturday. The 49ers added Wallace because the team is down three defensive backs. Jaquiski Tartt is on the non-football injury list with a slight quad strain. L.J. McCray and Will Redmond are taking part in limited practice as they return from their ACL surgeries of last year. . . .
Bruce Ellington, who jammed a finger during practice on Thursday, did not field punts. DeAndrew White, Bryce Treggs and Kenneth Acker were back deep working on catching punts and decision-making inside the 10-yard line. . .
Acker intercepted a Thad Lewis pass intended for Devon Cajuste. Pass-rusher Jason Fanaika pressured Lewis before the pick. . .
Safety Jered Bell broke up a fourth-and-goal pass in the end zone that Gabbert intended for Campbell. . .
Aaron Lynch got around rookie John Theus for a would-be sack of Kaepernick during a red-zone drill. A short time later, Shayne Skov broke free on an inside blitz to “sack” rookie Jeff Driskel.. .
Former 49ers fullback Michael Robinson, now with the NFL Network, made his first appearance at the team’s training facility since he failed to make Mike Singletary’s team in 2010. Robinson conducted post-practice interviews with Gabbert, Kaepernick and NaVorro Bowman.
Daily transactions: None.
Injury report: Nose tackle Glenn Dorsey (knee) worked with the strength and conditioning staff on a side field. . . . Safety Jaquiski Tartt (quad strain) remains on the active/non-football injury list. Tartt passed a conditioning test and should be available as early as Saturday.
Next practice: The 49ers are scheduled to return to practice Saturday at 10:25 a.m.
