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Rash of injuries hits cornerbacks after one game
Attention, all remaining 49ers cornerbacks: Please report to your undisclosed locations to be encased in bubble wrap and packing peanuts.
On Wednesday, the 49ers delivered a wave of unexpected bad news surrounding their secondary: AllPro cornerback Richard Sherman was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury; his backup, Ahkello Witherspoon, was in the concussion protocol, and practicesquad cornerback Tim Harris, a prime candidate to get promoted, was placed on practicesquad IR with a calf injury.
The biggest news, of course, is the loss of Sherman, 32, who will miss at least three games and isn’t eligible to return until Week 5, when the 49ers host the Dolphins on Oct. 11.
Sherman played 78 of 82 snaps in the seasonopening 2420 loss to the Cardinals, missing the final defensive series after suffering a calf strain. Neither head coach Kyle Shanahan nor Sherman mentioned the injury when speaking with reporters after the game, but Sherman has dealt with calf issues since he underwent surgeries on both Achilles before the 2018 season. Shanahan said Sherman’s calf was “hurting more than he expected” Monday afternoon.
In 2018, Sherman’s first season with the 49ers, he missed two games because of a left calf strain. Sherman had surgery to remove bone spurs from his left Achilles.
Pass rusher Dee Ford suffered what the 49ers initially termed a calf injury last month
in training camp. General manager John Lynch later referred to Ford’s injury as an “Achilles tweak.”
Shanahan was asked Wednesday whether Sherman’s calf injury was connected to an Achilles issue.
“They tell me calf, so I don’t hear about the Achilles,” Shanahan said. “So I would think that’s good. He doesn’t sound too concerned about it. He just is going to need a couple of weeks, we think. Maybe a little bit more. But hoping it’s only three” weeks.
Sherman’s absences have been felt over the previous two seasons.
Without Sherman, the 49ers are 03, have allowed 32.3 points a game and a 103.5 passer rating. With Sherman, they are 1713, have allowed 22.4 points per game and a 92.3 passer rating.
Last year, Sherman missed just one game, a 2922 upset loss to the Falcons in Week 15 in which he was sidelined with a hamstring injury. In that game, Atlanta’s Julio Jones had 13 catches for 134 yards, the most receptions in a game by a wide receiver against the 49ers since at least 1950.
That total was topped in Sunday’s season opener by Arizona wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who had 14 catches for 151 yards, while being covered primarily by cornerback Emmanuel Moseley. Sherman allowed two receptions for 10 yards to Hopkins.
The good news for the 49ers is their next two opponents, the Jets (01) and Giants (01), went a combined 1121 last year and might not be able to take full advantage of their shorthanded secondary while starting 23yearold quarterbacks.
Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, the No. 3 pick in 2018, ranked 27th in the NFL in passer rating last year. The Giants’ Daniel Jones, the No. 6 pick in 2019, was 20th.
Still, the 49ers could be severely shorthanded Sunday if Witherspoon isn’t available. Witherspoon’s backup is Jason Verrett, who hasn’t practiced since he suffered a hamstring injury Sept. 2.
If Witherspoon and Verrett aren’t available, Dontae Johnson likely would make his first start since 2017 opposite Moseley. Johnson, 28, was promoted from the practice squad Saturday, is on his third stint with the 49ers and has spent time with five other teams since 2018.
Who might be Johnson’s backup in such a scenario? Ever heard of Ken Webster? You are forgiven if you haven’t: The 49ers signed Webster, 24, from the Dolphins’ practice squad Wednesday.
The 49ers’ offense also could be undermanned against the Jets. Deebo Samuel, the team’s top wide receiver, is on injured reserve and AllPro tight end George Kittle suffered a sprained knee in the season opener. Kittle didn’t practice Wednesday.
“It's a challenge, but you always have something like this each year,” Shanahan said. “It's hitting us pretty hard right now.”