The 49ers might have another addition on the practice field in the coming weeks.
Marcus Lattimore, the team's fourth-round draft pick, said he's hoping to practice next week if cleared by team doctors.
"Everything feels good, I should be out there," Lattimore said on Thursday. "We'll see what happens."
The 49ers took Lattimore with the final selection in the fourth-round of the draft and placed him on the Non-Football Injury list prior to the start of the regular season. Lattimore suffered multiple knee injuries in college, most notably an Oct. 27 injury that saw him tear three ligaments in his right knee.
If Lattimore is not activated off the team's NFI list by Tuesday, he would immediately go to the team's Injured Reserve list.
Lattimore hasn't received assurance from coaches that he'll be cleared to practice next week, but he's hopeful the opportunity to join teammates will happen.
"It'll be important for me to have my mind ready for the next year, so I'm excited," Lattimore said.
Under the supervision of the team's strength staff, the acclaimed South Carolina running back participates in technique drills twice a week, plus two days of speed training and cutting drills.
The topic of practicing had Lattimore smiling as he sat down in front of his locker. Clearly, the 5-foot-11, 221-pound running back misses the game.
Lattimore wants to be a part of NFL practices.
"Just to get a feel of it, just to get a feel around how everything's gonna be," Lattimore said. "It's different. You can learn all you want, but until you go out and do it, it's really nothing you can grasp."
The former South Carolina star has been traveling with the 49ers and is a constantly picking the brains of his coaches and teammates during meetings.
"I learned more in these four months than I've ever learned as far as how the defense plays, how to read fronts, how to read linebackers and coverage," Lattimore said. "I've learned so much about the game in four months."
Lattimore credited his growth to learning from the likes of running backs coach Tom Rathman, as well as the veteran running backs on the roster.
"Coach Rathman is big on technique, discipline and just doing everything right," Lattimore explained. "That's the only way you're going to beat good teams, with technique."
Lattimore wants to show what he's learned from meetings and being around the veterans.
"Just watching Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter, you don't even have to talk to them, you can learn so much by watching what they do," Lattimore said.
"I'm excited to try that."
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