49ers' Davis Calls Absence From Practice 'Misunderstanding'
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Anthony Davis on Wednesday denied reports that he was considering retirement over the weekend for the second time in 15 months.
Davis missed practice Saturday before the season-opening win over the Rams. The team announced his absence was not injury related.
"Miscommunication," Davis said Wednesday.
Davis, a first-round pick in 2010, echoed what coach Chip Kelly said about the situation following the team's 28-0 win Monday night.
"It was just a miscommunication," Kelly said. "I had a long talk with Anthony on Saturday and everything has been ironed out. He's good to go."
When asked if there was anything about the reports he wanted to clarify, Davis said: "Just let it fester."
Davis was the favorite to start at right guard to open the season after he played his first five seasons at right tackle. He said he volunteered to switch after returning from his one-year retirement at the start of training camp in July.
But Andrew Tiller started for San Francisco at right guard Monday. Davis played the final three offensive snaps of the game at right tackle.
"It was a miscommunication between myself and Anthony and we don't have a miscommunication any longer," Kelly said.
With Tiller, the 49ers ran for 150 yards with three touchdowns and didn't allow a sack to Los Angeles' talented defensive. Blaine Gabbert threw for 170 yards and added 43 on the ground.
The 49ers ran for the fifth-most yards in Week 1 and scored touchdowns on all four trips to the red zone.
"Any time you can have those kind of stats, your offensive line had to play pretty good," offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins said.
San Francisco made a point this offseason of improving the offensive line.
In 2015, the 49ers allowed 53 sacks, the second-most in the NFL, while the running game ranked 21st, averaging 97 yards per game. They traded three picks to select Stanford guard Joshua Garnett at 28th overall and used consecutive fifth-round picks on offensive lineman John Theus from Georgia and Fahn Cooper from Mississippi before Davis committed to his return.
Cooper was released during final cuts and then signed to the practice squad.
NOTES: CB Chris Davis (hamstring) and CB Keith Reaser (ankle) returned to practice Wednesday and were limited after missing the game Monday. ... LB Nick Bellore (knee), S Marcus Cromartie (ankle), DT Quinton Dial (knee), DT Glenn Dorsey (knee) and Tiller (ankle) were listed as limited.
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