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49ers camp observations: Standout players from the open practice at Levi’s Stadium

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SANTA CLARA — Fans add a different element to football practice.

A cool 25,319 members of the 49er faithful showed up Saturday for the team’s only open practice to the public. It was your run-of-the-mill football practice, but there were some highlights and notes to observe.

-Matt Breida is coming on strong at the right time. A couple of big runs were coupled with a shoestring diving 25-yard catch on Saturday from C.J. Beathard on a third-down play. I reported in May the 49ers coaches thought he was the best rookie on the field during minicamp. ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently reported Breida is a lock to make the roster. The open practice certainly helped his case. If cuts happened today, the 49ers would probably set Kapri Bibbs, Raheem Mostert and Kapri Bibbs loose, while keeping Carlos Hyde, Tim Hightower, rookie Joe Williams and Breida.

-“He was coming here with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder,” Kyle Shanahan said of Breida. “Since the first day he got here, he’s attacked everything. From the weight room, to the film room and on the field. It was good to see some of that pay off today.”

-The list of undrafted prospects who have a shot of making the roster is climbing. There’s Breida, wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and Victor Bolden Jr., tight end Cole Hikutini, a pair of safeties in Lorenzo Jerome and Chanceller James. Of any player on this list, Jerome has seen the most first-team action (because of injuries).

-Brian Hoyer engineered two separate touchdown drives against the second-team defense. The first score came earlier in practice on a 12-yard crossing pattern to tight end Logan Paulsen, who Shanahan likes to get creative with in the red-zone. The second came at the end of a two-minute drill on a bullet pass Marquise Goodwin in the back corner of the end zone. Reporters charted Hoyer completing just over 75 percent of his passes. He really hasn’t had one poor outing eight days into training camp. Extremely impressive.

-Is Marquise Goodwin this good? Or is the 49ers secondary prone to struggles, especially without Jimmie Ward on the back end? It’s a question we’ll find a better answer to when the Denver Broncos show up for two days of practice later in August, with top cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib in tow. Goodwin has been without question the top playmaker in camp, even more so than Pierre Garcon, and fans got to see for themselves on Saturday. His world-class speed is exposing this secondary. He’s not just a deep threat either. Goodwin has flashed an ability to make tough catches in traffic over the middle. I’m hesitant to crown him yet, but early on Shanahan seems to have found a hidden gem in the 26-year-old.

-Eric Reid intercepted a Hail Mary pass in the end zone and also leveled Aldrick Robinson on a hit over the middle. If he’s playing well, I’ve lobbied the 49ers might sign him to an extension in the middle of the season. Finding good safeties in free agency is a crap shoot. Reid told reporters earlier in training camp there have been no contract discussions.

-The defensive line has been winning against the offensive line, particularly in passing downs. Solomon Thomas is becoming increasingly disruptive. Arik Armstead’s strong start to camp wasn’t just a blip on the radar. As Jay Glazer tweeted the other day, the potential lying within this unit is ridiculous. The most encouraging part is that this 49ers offensive line is no slouch. It’s an athletic, veteran group.

-Malcolm Smith suffered what the team is fearing to be a significant chest injury — read the full story here.

-Joshua Garnett, who is competing for a starting guard spot, was seen with a wrap around his leg. Shanahan said he will have a cleanup type of surgery, and will miss some time. Rashard Robinson left practice early with hamstring tightness but told KNBR.com he’s completely fine.

-Special teams has been incorporated more throughout practice the last two days, and new kicker Robbie Gould has been perfect. There shouldn’t be a drop-off in that area at all after four seasons with Phil Dawson.