Sherman looking sharp in return
SANTA CLARA >> Richard Sherman’s surgically repaired left Achilles again bears watching, and the 49ers can only hope he responds to injury scares as well as he did Wednesday.
Sherman returned an interception of a Jimmy Garoppolo pass 95 yards for a would-be touchdown to alleviate any concerns earlier in practice.
It would have been reasonable if he got pulled out of practice once he tangled feet with safety Jaquiski Tartt in a one-on-one warmup drill.
Sherman pounded his fist into the turf and grabbed at his left Achilles, which required surgery in late 2018 to effectively end his Seattle Seahawks’ tenure.
As Sherman and 49ers trainers evaluated his pain, he was surrounded by all defensive backs, who gave way to general manager John Lynch, coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
“When he was grabbing (his Achilles), I got a little nervous for him,” Saleh said. “But then we got over there and realized when he talked through what he went through, there was no concern and more of a relief.”
In a training camp marred by injuries the preceding eight practices, Sherman bounced up, tested out his leg, and soon was lining up with the first-string defense for the ensuing team drills.
“Same old Sherm,” Saleh added. “He was hobbling a little bit but he’s fine. He just needs a little bit of rehab, a little bit of treatment. He’ll be alright.”
Sherman’s interception came as he covered Kendrick Bourne and Garoppolo floated a prayer over onrushing defensive end Arik Armstead. Garoppolo had two of his next four passes intercepted off deflections, those thefts going to Johnathan
Cyprien and Javon Kinlaw.
Sherman missed only three starts in the previous two seasons, and as he enters Year 10, the 49ers are relying on his All-Pro experience and overall leadership to make it back to the Super Bowl.
Losing Sherman obviously would hinder that charge. But the 49ers’ cornerback crew seems more capable of withstanding that compared to previous years, because of how well their other cornerbacks have looked this camp, including Emmanuel Moseley (Sherman’s likely eventual successor on the left side), Ahkello Witherspoon, Jason Verrett and Tim Harris, who made a nice red-zone play Tuesday.
The 49ers certainly don’t want to see Sherman or any
more starters get hurt with only two practices remaining in official training camp, before they shift preparations toward their Sept. 13 opener against Arizona.
Here is their list of injured players, who did not practice Wednesday: defensive ends Nick Bosa (leg strain) and Dee Ford (calf), wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring), cornerback K’Waun Williams (calf), safety Marcell Harris (ankle), tight end Ross Dwelley (foot), center Ben Garland (ankle) and guard Ross Reynolds (knee).
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk did not practice but did conditioning on the side in a likely rest day as he appeared unhindered, as was the case Tuesday with running back Raheem Mostert.
The same could be the
case for tight end George Kittle, who spent the last half of practice working on the side with trainers.
Still not cleared to practice this camp and on injury lists are wide receivers Deebo Samuel (foot) and Richie James Jr. (wrist), center Weston Richburg (knee), defensive end Ronnie Blair (knee) and defensive lineman Jullian Taylor (knee). WARD WEIGHS IN ON JACOB BLAKE SHOOTING >> Jimmie Ward and his 49ers teammates have discussed the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Ward’s Wisconsin roots have him yearning for things to “get better for us.”
Blake, a 29-year-old Black male, was shot in the back Sunday and reportedly paralyzed after police
responded to a domestic dispute. Violent protests ensued the following three nights in Kenosha, where Ward’s two youngest brothers live.
“I’ve been to Kenosha. It’s rough out there in that area and stuff like that happens all the time,” Ward said Wednesday in a post-practice video call with reporters.
“Growing up in that type of environment and those conditions, you just know what to do and what not to do. Not saying anything is wrong with what happened; not saying anything is good.
“I’m sorry for what happened and I’m sorry for the victim’s family. I just hope, going forward as a country, that things get better for us.”
Ward, a seventh-year safety, was born in Racine,
about 15 minutes from Kenosha. He moved before he was 5 in 1996 to Mobile, Alabama, where he attended high school before playing at Northern Illinois and getting drafted in the first round by the 49ers in 2014.
As for Ward and the 49ers’ take on it, he said, “Yeah there’s been a few guys talking about it. I feel sorry for his family. I watched the video and I don’t have much information on it, so I can’t give you too much.
“I’m from Racine, Wisconsin, about 15 minutes from Kenosha. My two youngest brothers on my dad’s side still live there, so I had to reach out to them to make sure they’re doing fine. I know it’s been getting pretty crazy out there.”