SANTA CLARA -- Through six practices of 49ers training camp, veteran cornerback Jason Verrett remains solidly in the competition for the starting job opposite of Richard Sherman.
Verrett originally signed with the 49ers last year. His knee was not right, and it showed. After appearing in just a handful of snaps in one regular-season game, Verrett spent the remainder of the season on injured reserve.
But the 49ers brought Verrett back for a second year.
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They brought him back for a reason. And the reason is to compete with Emmanuel Moseley and Ahkello Witherspoon for the starting job.
The 49ers’ NFL All-Decade cover man on the other side has taken notice.
“He’s way further along this year,” Sherman said of Verrett. “His feet look incredible. His confidence is rising every day. He’s so sound and so hard on himself and so tough on himself, but he’s been fantastic at the line of scrimmage.”
A variety of injuries have limited Verrett to just 26 games since entering the NFL as a first-round draft pick of the Chargers in 2014. He played 14 games in 2015, and was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team. Since then, Verrett has played in just six games over four seasons.
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Sherman said he sees plenty of evidence of the vast potential Verrett can offer the 49ers, if he remains healthy. Sherman said he notices it particularly in the physical way Verrett plays at the line of scrimmage.
“That’s something, coming into camp, he wanted to improve on, and something he’s improved drastically on from last year,” Sherman said. “Obviously, in his best years, he was incredible at the line of scrimmage. And I think he’s regaining that form and that confidence. It’s been exciting to see for our team.”
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