NFL Notes: 49ers, Giants, Patriots

49ers

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan mentioned that they’ve allowed first-round LB Reuben Foster (shoulder) to participate in individual drills during OTAs, as long as there isn’t any contact.

“Reuben, everything out there he’s got to watch,” Shanahan said, via ESPN.com. “We’ve allowed him to participate in anything that there’s no possibility of contact. So, if he’s doing any of the individual drills and not going against people, then he’s able to do everything because he can run and do it all. He just … we’ve got to be able to avoid collisions right now. He’s trying to stay locked in. I know it’s hard for him. He wants to run around out there, but he can’t do it. We’ve got to be smart with it. We can’t set him back.”

Shanahan added that while Foster can play middle linebacker, they have him more focused on playing weakside linebacker.

“He hasn’t been out there yet,” Shanahan said. “I think he’s been focusing more on Will [linebacker]. But, at that position, you’ve got to know both of them.”

Giants

Giants second-year WR Sterling Shepard said he’s focused on improving his yards after catch this year.

“What am I looking to work on? Really just after the catch,” Shepard said, via Dan Duggan of NJ.com. “I feel like I could have gotten a lot more YAC (yards after catch) yardage last year. That’s something that I looked at on film and I want to get better on.”

Shepard also mentioned that he would like to get more work down the field.

“I mean I always tell Coach (Ben) McAdoo that I want a deep post, but he tells me I’m a more over-the-middle guy,” Shepard said.

Patriots

• Mike Reiss of ESPN writes that Eric Rowe could end up being a matchup-based option for them cornerback this year.
• Last week, the Patriots had Jonathan Jones getting the majority of work as their No. 3 cornerback and while he could be in the mix for playing time, Rowe’s size should help him get on the field against taller receivers and tight ends.