49ers’ Richard Sherman one of four NFL players to be featured on Sports Illustrated cover

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman will be one of four NFL players featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's NFL Preview issue. He is also the only non-quarterback who will be on one of four covers. The other players are Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts, Carson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans.

The NFL preview article by Andy Benoit of The MMQB, which is featured in the issue of the magazine, has the 49ers finishing with a record of 9-7 in 2018. That is good enough for second in the NFC West behind the Los Angeles Rams, who are predicted to be 10-6. Neither the Seattle Seahawks nor the Arizona Cardinals are given winning records.

It's ironic that Sherman is the 49ers player featured on the cover because Benoit points out the team's secondary as its one glaring weakness. Although, others will argue that it is the lack of a legitimate pass rusher on the edge.

Sherman is working his way back from an Achilles injury suffered in November as a member of the Seahawks. He is slated to be one of the 49ers' two starting outside cornerbacks. A hamstring injury has slowed down his return, but head coach Kyle Shanahan expects the veteran cornerback to practice this week and potentially play on Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts.

"I think he was close to doing that last week," Shanahan said on Sunday. "I know he definitely wanted to. I'm very confident he'll be out there Tuesday practicing unless some crazy setback happens. But right now, it's really just about Richard feels good, and he just wants to get his body ready for Week 1."

General manager John Lynch also feels it's best to be cautious if it means an increased probability that Sherman will be ready for the regular season.

"Sherm wants to get out there, and that's what we love about him," Lynch said last week. "That's what makes him Richard Sherman, is that will and he doesn't want to let his teammates down. We're trying to think of the big picture. We need him healthy come (Week 1 against) Minnesota, our opener, and throughout the year. And we don't want anything nagging going into the year."

The 49ers' first practice of the week is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. PT on Tuesday.

Below are the three other covers featured on Sports Illustrated's NFL Preview issue.

H/t to Kirk Larrabee of 24/7 Sports for the find.