Strange times for 49ers on defense

Criticism and confusion amid lack of corners

The 49ers have been running low on proven cornerbacks this season.

And the lack of options at the injurythinned position explains why two obviously hobbled corners, K’Waun Williams and Dontae Johnson, returned to a 2520 loss to the Eagles on Oct. 4.

Williams suffered a knee injury in the third quarter, was examined by the medical staff and briefly returned to the game before he was finally forced to exit. Johnson missed three snaps because of a groin injury before returning and finishing the game.

“I can't tell you how much respect I have for K’Waun,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said Oct. 5. “… The fact when he was getting hurt throughout that game, he kept trying to come in

because he knew how down we were.”

Said Shanahan of Johnson: “He hurt his groin during the game, but we didn't have enough guys up. So he came back in the game just trying to battle through it.”

This, of course, is a standard part of the NFL culture: Players are routinely praised for gutting through injuries to help the team.

And it provides the backdrop for why a situation Sunday surrounding another injured cornerback, Ahkello Witherspoon, was unusual.

The 49ers fell into an immediate hole in their 4317 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday partly because they started cornerback Brian Allen, who had not played a defensive snap in the NFL.

Allen committed two penalties and allowed six catches for 139 yards and a touchdown before he was benched with the 49ers trailing 217 midway through the second quarter.

Allen was forced into action after Witherspoon said Saturday he could play, but only in an emergency, Shanahan said. Witherspoon had missed the previous two games with a hamstring injury. Shanahan said Monday that he didn’t look fully healthy in practice and was still dealing with hamstring tightness last week. Witherspoon was limited in three practices and was questionable for Sunday’s game.

Witherspoon largely stood alone on the sideline while Miami quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick picked on Allen. Shanahan said Witherspoon told defensive coaches he could play during the second quarter. Witherspoon played the final 41 defensive snaps.

Former 49ers safety Donte Whitner ripped Witherspoon on Sunday night in his role as an analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area.

“If you know that you can get out there and compete and help your football team, why would you sit on the sideline when you know this guy is overmatched?" Whitner said. “And this what I've been saying the entire year, and I'm going to say it now: Ahkello Witherspoon is soft. SOFT. And you let the football team down by allowing this young guy to get out there.”

Shanahan was asked about Whitner’s pointed criticism of

Witherspoon. Was it fair?

“Every guy's situation is different,” Shanahan said. “Every injury is different and every person you deal with is different. I know I was expecting ( Witherspoon) to ( play last) week and I think he was, too. But it didn't look that way at all in practice, the way he was moving.

“When I talked to him, the way he described it, how tight it felt, that's what he said. I never question guys what they tell me when you ask them and they speak what is in their heart. So that's what he told me. And that's what I can go off of.”

Witherspoon made it through the game without aggravating his injury. However, Shanahan indicated he took a significant risk Sunday by playing.

Witherspoon “was able to pull it off and get out of the game without tearing it,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan didn’t offer Witherspoon the praise he’d given to Williams and Johnson a week earlier. However, Shanahan was pleased with one aspect of the way Witherspoon handled the days before Sunday’s game: Witherspoon said he would be available if the cornerback corps suffered more injuries.

“What I was happy with on Saturday, that him knowing our situation, at least he told me that he could dress and be used in case of an emergency,” Shanahan said. “… I was glad he felt good enough to where we didn't have to wait for that emergency. And he told us he was good to go there in the second quarter.”