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The San Francisco 49ers fear the worst but are praying for the best when it comes to starting cornerback
Jason Verrett. The defender went down late during Sunday's 41-33 victory against the Detroit Lions, and head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed after the game that the team fears he suffered a torn ACL.
That would land Verrett on injured reserve for the sixth time in his eight NFL seasons. The cornerback admitted that
he considered retirement after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in 2018 and was glad to get another chance with the 49ers.
Now, he may be facing yet another difficult journey after staying relatively healthy last season and proving himself to be one of San Francisco's better defenders.
Star linebacker
Fred Warner said it was really difficult to see Verrett go down at Ford Field.
"That's my brother, just like everybody else on that field," Warner added. "I know we all know the journey he's gone through, so pulling for him. Whatever the news is, I've got his back."
Verrett was in tears as he tried to make his way to the locker room after the injury. He tried to get there on his own but eventually needed help. It was emotional for his teammates and fans to watch because everyone knows Verrett's history with injuries. It's been an issue that plagued his NFL career, and the cornerback felt he was finally past.
"J.V., he's one of those guys who battled back from a lot of stuff, just in his whole career," quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo told reporters. "Not even just with us, but before that, even. It's tough to see a guy go down like that. I don't really know what it is exactly, but you just hate to see it. So, we're pulling for him. We're all in it together with him. It's tough, though."
Wide receiver
Deebo Samuel has dealt with injury issues himself during his short NFL career but nothing to the extent of what Verrett has endured.
"It's kind of hard because J.V. is a great guy," Samuel said. "I mean, he's been working so hard to come out here and prove himself, and then just to see him go down, I just pray nothing is really wrong with him, and you can tell it took a toll on the team."
Samuel added that Verrett has made him a better wide receiver thanks to the two going against each other in practices.
"J.V. has done everything he possibly could to prevent from happening," Samuel continued. "He's a great guy, and I just pray that nothing is really wrong with him."
Others, like All-Pro tight end
George Kittle and veteran pass rusher Dee Ford feel for their injured teammate, but want to make sure he knows he has their support.
"J.V. has been a leader on this team," Kittle said. "His story of just playing at a high level and getting hurt, playing at a high level and getting hurt, it's awful. It definitely knocks the wind out of your sails. I mean, he's a leader on this team. He's a guy that's consistent, shows up every single day, plays at a high level. He makes plays when we need them. He's reliable, and when that happens, it just sucks. I mean, he's a great football player, and I feel absolutely terrible for him. Yeah, it really sucks.
"I know he's going to attack his rehab. I mean, we don't really know what he did but whatever it is, we're going to miss him for however long he's out."
Ford's time in the NFL has also included several injury-related setbacks. He missed all but one game last season due to a back injury and had to battle back to return.
"It's always the next-man-up mentality," Ford said. "But for me personally, me and him both have kind of been up and down with the injuries. So, I was really torn up to see that. A guy fights to get in this position. Health is one of the biggest things that athletes go through, so just to see that happen to him, praying the best for him.
"He's a soldier, so he'll be alright. But it wasn't a good thing for me to see."
Today, NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah spoke to the media during a nearly two-hour conference call, fielding questions about the 2024 NFL Draft. One question surrounded the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers trading up in the first round to increase their chances of landing an impact player.
Depending on the 49ers' priorities, Jeremiah only believes a significant move is necessary if the team tries to target a couple of defensive positions.
"I mean, they've got a nice haul of picks here, so if they want to move up, they absolutely have the ammunition to do so," Jeremiah stated. "I just think when you look at the needs that they have and some of the different areas that they could go, if you're thinking about corners and edge rushers, maybe you miss
In 2020, the San Francisco 49ers traded up from the No. 31 overall pick to the No. 25 spot with their sights set on a wide receiver brimming with potential. It was the first year of COVID, so NFL teams conducted their drafts remotely, providing fans with a unique glimpse into team decision-makers' makeshift home war rooms.
Almost immediately after Aiyuk heard his name called, fans caught a glimpse of the reactions from head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
In honor of Draft Day, let's throw it back to Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch's reaction to drafting Brandon Aiyuk
George Kittle made his sentiments clear in a recent conversation about his teammate, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The tight end emphasized that he couldn't picture the San Francisco 49ers without Aiyuk and spoke highly of him in a discussion with Fox News Digital's Scott Thompson.
Throughout the offseason, Kittle has had several conversations with Aiyuk and empathizes with his situation. Reflecting on his own contract negotiation in 2020 before reaching an agreement with the 49ers, Kittle offered his best advice to Aiyuk: "Hey, be patient."
Kittle added, "It's just kind of the way the Niners do things. I didn't
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus unveiled a seven-round mock draft for the San Francisco 49ers, addressing several key needs for the team in the 10-pick projection. Interestingly, the mock draft sees the team adding two legacy players. But before delving into that, let's examine the first three selections.
Sikkema has the 49ers shoring up their offensive line at pick No. 31 with the selection of former Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan.
Morgan allowed 14 pressures and two sacks in his 477 pass-blocking snaps at left tackle in 2023. He earned an impressive pass-blocking grade of 87.3 and an overall grade of
