49ers notes: Rogers returns, Bowman and Willis excused

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SANTA CLARA -- Cornerback Carlos Rogers, out most of the 49ers' offseason program with a calf strain, took part in most of the on-field work during the first day of the team's three-day mandatory minicamp.Linebacker NaVorro Bowman, an expectant father of twins, was excused to remain home in the Washington area. Linebacker Patrick Willis left practice early to return to Tennessee for personal reasons after coach Jim Harbaugh pulled him out of a drill less than an hour into the team's 2 12-hour practice.Larry Grant and Tavares Gooden worked with the 49ers' first-team defense in place of Bowman and Willis.
Receiver Ted Ginn, tight end Delanie Walker, linebackers Cam Johnson and Darius Fleming and guard Joe Looney did not participate due to injuries.
Safety Dashon Goldson remains unsigned as the 49ers' franchise player. Also, rookie running back LaMichael James is not eligible to begin working out with the 49ers because of Oregon's late end to the school year.The 49ers will conclude their official offseason program with minicamp practices scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.MAIOCCO: Roman says offseason is not overrated
Here are some notes from the workout:--Former 49ers coach Steve Mariucci, now with the NFL Network, watched practice for one of the few times since the club fired him following the 2003 season. Mariucci chatted with a couple of reporters and 49ers general manager Trent Baalke during the practice.--Receiver Mario Manningham had the catch of the practice, a phenomenal sliding effort along the sideline on a pass from quarterback Scott Tolzien against good coverage from rookie cornerback Anthony Mosley.--Tolzien also had a nice throw to tight end Kyle Nelson, who made a leaping catch for a touchdown in a red-zone drill, against Deante' Purvis' coverage.--Earlier in the day, 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said there was an emphasis on eliminating pre-snap penalties. But Manningham was called for false start. On the next play, tight end Konrad Reuland was called for the same infraction.
--Cornerback Chris Culliver got tangled up with Randy Moss while dislodging the football during a red-zone drill. Moss got to his feet first and helped Culliver off the ground.
--Cornerback Perrish Cox ended the second-team offense's two-minute drill with an interception of a Colin Kaepernick pass intended for receiver Brett Swain. Safety Michael Thomas tipped the pass, leading to the interception.--The first-team offense scored from about 60 yards out on three plays. Running back Kendall Hunter exposed a blown coverage to catch an Alex Smith pass and turn it into a long touchdown.--Receiver Nathan Palmer, the 49ers' most coveted undrafted rookie with a 10,000 signing bonus, made an exceptional diving catch of a Josh Johnson pass against the coverage of Mosley.--Johnson and receiver Joe Hastings hooked up on touchdown pass on the final play of practice.--Will Tukuafu worked at fullback and caught several passes during the practice session.--Michael Crabtree beat Rogers deep in a one-on-one drill to catch a pass from Colin Kaepernick.--Moss caught a long ball from Alex Smith against Tramaine Brock, who had tight coverage, during one-on-one.--Rookie A.J. Jenkins caught a deep pass from Kaepernick against Purvis' coverage.--Grant stripped tight end Nate Byham of the ball after a short pass in 7-on-7, then he broke up a Kaepernick pass to Vernon Davis on the next play.--Culliver intercepted a Kaepernick pass intended for Jenkins.--Former Pro Bowl long-snapper Ryan Pontbriand struggled during a field-goal session. He had had two low snaps, one of which forced an aborted kick, and another high snap to holder Andy Lee.--Moss made a nice fingertip grab of a pass down the left sideline against Culliver's coverage.--Kaepernick had several of his pass attempts batted down at the line of scrimmage, including one from undrafted rookie Kourtnei Brown in the practice-ending two-minute drill.--Safety Mark LeGree had an intercepted pass on a Josh Johnson pass that linebacker Joe Holland deflected.

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