Much has been discussed about the San Francisco 49ers' injuries at running back. On the defensive side of the football, the cornerback group has been impacted by injuries too. Emmanuel Moseley (knee) has yet to be active for a game this season. In addition, the team lost Jason Verrett for the season to a torn ACL.
This past Sunday, against the Philadelphia Eagles, the 49ers started Josh Norman and Deommodore Lenoir at cornerback. The hope is that Moseley will return to the lineup this weekend against the Green Bay Packers.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan joined KNBR this afternoon and was asked about his cornerback situation leading into Week 3. Should Moseley return to the field, who starts opposite him? Norman or Lenoir?
"We won't decide that until Sunday, but [Moseley] did get to go more than he has since he had that injury," Shanahan said on the Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks show, "so he's definitely ahead this week than he has been the last two weeks. I know he's been 'questionable' each week. I'm more optimistic about this week, but we won't be able to decide that until Sunday."
Moseley has been limited during the 49ers' two practices this week. The team will hold its final practice tomorrow afternoon and then release the official game statuses for its injured players. The past two Fridays, Moseley has been listed as "doubtful."
"He had a good [practice] today," Shanahan continued. "We'll see him more tomorrow. Hopefully, Moseley's good to go, and if he is, we won't hesitate to get him out there."
It seems more likely that the 49ers would opt to start Norman, a veteran, opposite Moseley if that happens. That's not necessarily a knock on Lenoir's development as a rookie. The coach has been impressed with his young defender.
"Whether he had a play where he's completely ballin' or whether he gave up a go route, he seems the exact same," Shanahan said of Lenoir. "I mean, that's how you want to be in the NFL at any position, but to me, it's the most important at corner. Because I don't care how good you are, you're on an island most of this game, and there's a lot of good wideouts in this league, and a lot of great quarterbacks. If you're not like that, eventually, you're going to get in your own head, and that's where I feel like he's got an advantage.
"He's got a certain mentality to him. I think you guys notice it. We notice it. It showed up on the field, and it's going to give himself a chance to have a pretty good career and help us out."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.