Jason Verrett has landed on injured reserve in each of his past three NFL seasons. He has been placed on injured reserve during four of his five NFL seasons. Verrett's last healthy season came in 2015, and it resulted in a Pro Bowl selection.
The veteran cornerback hopes his sixth NFL season sees him return to that Pro Bowl level. The San Francisco 49ers bet that he could when they signed him to a one-year deal in March.
One of Verrett's new teammates in the defensive backfield, cornerback Richard Sherman, believes he can be among the league's best when healthy. He just needs to stay on the field.
"When he's on the field, he's one of the best corners in our game," Sherman explained. "When he's healthy, and he's moving, he has great instincts, he has great movement, he has good ball skills. He's just a pest. He's always there. He's always close to the ball. Even when the receiver is making a catch, it's really a tough, contested catch."
Verrett continues to rehab from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in late July of last year. Until he is fully cleared to practice, there will be a battle between defenders like Ahkello Witherspoon and Tarvarius Moore for that starting spot opposite Sherman.
Once healthy, Verrett plans to enter that competition.
"Obviously, the circumstances have been what they were in LA and San Diego," Sherman continued, "but I think, at least from my perspective, he has a great reputation when he's on the field. Obviously, he's had some tough injuries, and nobody wants to see it, but if he gets back up to speed, he's going to be tough to deal with."
The video below is courtesy of Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
