Saleh declares an open cornerback competition
Ahkello Witherspoon ended last year’s regular season as the 49ers’ starting right cornerback.
And Emmanuel Moseley finished the postseason as their starter at the position.
However, neither player is guaranteed to assume the role opposite AllPro Richard Sherman when the 49ers host the Cardinals in their season opener Sept. 13.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said Tuesday that Witherspoon, Moseley and Jason Verrett are vying for the starting role. Witherspoon played with the firstteam Tuesday after Moseley ran with the starters Monday for the second time in training camp. Verrett was with the first string Sunday.
“The corner spot opposite Sherm, we’d like to see competition over there,” Saleh said. “It is wide open, if you want to call it that.”
Verrett, a 2014 firstround pick by the Chargers who was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2015, is the most accomplished of the three. But he has missed 58 of 64 games because of leg injuries the past four seasons and his lone appearance with the 49ers last year, in a Week 3 win against the Steelers, was a disaster in which he clearly wasn’t healthy. He was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, marking the fourth straight season he has finished the year on IR.
“As far as Verrett is concerned, he’s been looking good,” Saleh said. “He looks a lot more comfortable. He looks a lot more confident. It’s just a matter of him getting back in the feel of it. It’s been a while for him where’s he’s been able to put together a full training camp. So he's off to a good start.”
Garland injured: Center Ben Garland suffered an ankle injury when he was rolled up on during practice and finished the session observing from the sideline.
The injury didn’t appear serious, but it highlights the 49ers’ lack of numbers at the position. Starter Weston Richburg (knee) is the on the physically unable to perform list and Spencer Long, 29, retired Sunday, three days after he officially signed with the team. On Tuesday, right guard Daniel Brunskill replace Garland at center with the first team. Ross Reynolds, who spent last year on the practice squad, also plays the position.
The 49ers have brought in former Chicago and Baltimore center Hroniss Grasu, 29, for a visit, NFL Network reported. Grasu, a 2015 thirdround pick of the Bears, has made 13 career starts.
In other injury news, slot corner K’Waun Williams is expected to be sidelined two to three weeks with a Grade 1 calf strain, a source said. That timeline means Williams should be available for the season opener.
Pettis sighting: After three quiet practices, wide receiver Dante Pettis, a 2018 secondround pick who is fighting for a roster spot, was the star pass catcher in practice.
Pettis caught five shorttointermediate passes over the middle, two apiece from Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Mullens and another from C.J. Beathard.
Before Tuesday, Pettis had just two catches in the previous two practices, one coming after he bobbled a ball and it was almost intercepted.
Pettis played just nine snaps last year in the final 10 games, including the playoffs. His banishment began after a zerocatch, 31snap performance in a loss to Seattle in which he pulled up on a short crossing route and dropped a pass during a crucial series in overtime.
“He’s been coming along,” Garoppolo said. “It’s very encouraging the physicality that he’s playing with. The competitiveness that he’s bringing. You love to see that. It’s just one of those things, you’ve got to keep it rolling.”
Safety visits: The 49ers have brought in strong safety Johnathan Cyprien for a workout, NFL Network reported.
Cyprien, 30, a 2013 secondround pick by Jacksonville, has played in five games over the past two seasons because of a torn ACL and foot injury. He has made 71 starts in his sevenyear career. The 49ers could be seeking to provide competition for Marcell Harris, the backup to starter Jaquiski Tartt.