WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Final season, after cornerback Jason Verrett suffered a torn ACL, the
San Francisco 49ers
turned to Josh Norman, a 30-something within the sundown of his profession.
This season, after cornerback Emmanuel Moseley suffered a torn ACL on Sunday, the 49ers might finally flip to a different 30-something doubtless nearing the top: Verrett.
After their 37-15 win over the Panthers, 49ers tight finish
George Kittle
famous the lack of Moseley was important earlier than discovering a vivid spot.
“Thank goodness that Jason Verrett is nearly wholesome,” he stated. “That’s a good backup to have for Emmanuel Moseley. That’s the silver lining of it.”
Sure, the 49ers are hoping Verrett, 31, has one other comeback left in him.
Head coach
Kyle Shanahan
has made it clear Verrett isn’t able to fill the sizable void left by Moseley’s harm beginning Sunday when the 49ers go to the Falcons. Verrett practiced Wednesday for the primary time since he was injured 13 months in the past and he’s nonetheless within the first week of a three-week window by which the 49ers can transfer him to the 53-man roster.
However Shanahan clearly believes he’s one of the best long-term reply, as soon as he’s prepared. Or, contemplating Verrett’s age and lengthy medical file, if he’s prepared?
“Oh, yeah, if Verrett’s good to go, Verrett’s a big-time nook,” Shanahan stated. “So if Verrett can get these follow reps, and get on the market, and get absolutely healed, and get again into sport form and able to go, he’ll find yourself being our man.”
That’s fairly a number of contingencies. And that’s comprehensible given Verret’s agonizing historical past. A 2014 first-round decide, he’s performed in simply 40 of 118 video games in his profession due to a bunch of accidents which have included two torn ACLs, a torn labrum and a torn Achilles tendon.
Verrett has completed six of his eight seasons on injured reserve. And he’s been sensible within the two seasons by which he’s remained principally wholesome. In 2015, when he performed 14 video games, he was a Professional Bowl alternate. In 2020, when he performed 13 video games, he was the 49ers’ No. 1 cornerback and restricted quarterbacks to a 76.2 passer ranking on the 75 passes on which he was focused.
Can he recapture his 2020 type after one more severe leg harm?
“I’m undoubtedly not placing it previous him,” Shanahan stated. “J.V. is a really spectacular particular person. And he’s gone by means of as a lot dangerous issues in his profession that he has frequently tried to beat. Enjoying the entire yr in 2020 and the kind of yr he had after all of the issues that occurred earlier than, that was unbelievable.”
Within the interim, the 49ers will flip to a nook who’s much less confirmed. Shanahan stated Monday a choice hasn’t been made on whether or not Samuel Womack, Ambry Thomas or Dontae Johnson would begin towards Atlanta.
Womack, a rookie fifth-round decide, was the first-string nickel nook till Deommodore Lenoir changed him after two video games. And Thomas, who changed Norman and steadily improved on the finish of his rookie yr in 2021, has slipped down the depth chart: He’s performed eight defensive snaps within the first 5 video games. And Johnson, 30, who has appeared in additional video games with the 49ers (100) than any participant on the roster, has spent the season on the follow squad.
The hope is a type of gamers can capably man the spot till Verrett is able to launch his newest comeback.
“He’s finished the work to the place he’s wholesome sufficient to get into follow now,” Shanahan stated. “However we simply want him to follow some so he can make it possible for he can maintain up and get his skillset again. If he does try this, I believe most you guys know, identical to the folks on this league know, how good of a nook J.V. is.”
Eric Department covers the 49ers for The San Francisco Chronicle. E mail: [email protected] Twitter: @Eric_Branch
