San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't want to divulge who his starting cornerback opposite Richard Sherman would be against the Green Bay Packers later today. It was assumed Emmanuel Moseley would get the start over Ahkello Witherspoon, and that is indeed the case, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Source: The #49ers are going with Emmanuel Moseley to start at right cornerback in the NFC Championship Game today against the #Packers.https://t.co/o1v1KELsFW
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) January 19, 2020
Witherspoon got the start last weekend against the Minnesota Vikings and the five regular-season games before that. Moseley, however, replaced Witherspoon last weekend after the starter struggled early and allowed Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs to score Minnesota's only touchdown of the day.
The 49ers went on to win the game 27-10 and advance to the NFC Championship Game.
After being benched, Witherspoon sought coordinator Richard Hightower and asked to take Moseley's snaps on special teams.
"That's the next job," Witherspoon told NBC Sports Bay Area. "When I'm not needed at the main job, then the next one is to go contribute on special teams. ... It's all about contributing and trying to help this team win football games."
Moseley has nine starts this season, with most of those coming after Witherspoon suffered a foot sprain during Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 49ers and Packers are just hours away from kicking off against one another in the NFC Championship Game.
