49ers notes: Willis back at practice, rarin' to go

<p>SANTA CLARA – Linebacker Patrick Willis returned to the practice field Monday after two weeks on the sideline with injuries to his right ankle and Achilles’ tendon.</p><p>His time out of action only served to reaffirm what the two-time Pro Bowl selection already knew about himself: He does not like the view from the sideline. </p><p>“If it was up to me, I would try and go the next day after I hurt it,” Willis said. “We’re going through a progression right now of just playing it safe and not rushing back in. It’s training camp, and as much as I’d love to be out there, we have to be smart at the same time.”</p><p>Willis sustained his injury during the “nutcracker” drill, going against running back Michael Robinson.</p><p>Coach Mike Singletary this summer introduced the drill, in which two like-sized players square off head-to-head with the object for each player to push forward against the other’s resistance.</p><p>Guard David Baas continues to be out of action with a foot strain, which he sustained in the “nutcrackere” on Aug. 4.</p><p>Robinson (groin) and cornerback Tarell Brown (toe) were back in pads for the first time, too. Robinson took part in individual drills and some limited team work, while Brown was scheduled to begin running.</p><p>Robinson had been out since Aug. 4, while Brown was injured on the first day of camp. It is not known if either sustained their injuries in the drill.</p><p>WORK VS. RAIDERS</p><p>The 49ers’ quarterback competition hits the road, as the club traveled Monday night to Napa. The 49ers will practice today and Wednesday against the Raiders.</p><p>“I think the nice thing from a quarterback is for two weeks, we’ve really just been seeing the same looks,” 49ers quarterback Alex Smith said.</p><p>Last year, the 49ers practiced one day against the Raiders. This year, the clubs will take part in four practice sessions over four days.</p><p>EXTRA POINTS</p><p>The 49ers had a non-padded afternoon practice for just the second time this summer. Nineteen of the team’s 21 full-team, high-speed practices have been padded.</p><p>Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich sat out the morning practice with a sore groin, but he returned for the afternoon session. </p><p>There is still no reported progress in the 49ers’ contract impasse with receiver Michael Crabtree, the team’s first-round draft pick.</p><p>Crabtree will enter Day 22 of the stalemate today.</p><p>For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com</p>