Retirement? 49ers’ Jason Verrett considered leaving NFL

Justin Verrett considered retirement during yet another rehab last year. The 49ers cornerback said Wednesday he pondered leaving the NFL at 27 after a torn Achilles in July became the latest significant injury in his bulging medical file. "It definitely was devastating; hard to deal with," Verrett said on Sirius XM NFL Radio. "I was in a dark place for a few months -- just from rehabbing and sitting on the couch … But I definitely did contemplate giving up on it." Verrett, of course, didn't quit. And the 49ers are hoping he can assume a large role in their secondary after signing him to a relatively puny one-year contract with $1 million guaranteed and $1.5 million tied to per-game roster bonuses. The 49ers have indicated Verrett will start at right cornerback opposite Richard Sherman, assuming he recovers from his torn Achilles and stays healthy. And history suggests that's unlikely. Verrett has played in more than six games once in his five-year career, has made five of 48 starts since 2015 and hasn't played in a game since Sept. 11, 2017. He considered retirement due an anguishing string of leg injuries. After tearing the ACL in his left knee in 2016 and 2017, Verrett...