© Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Sunday’s 41-33 win over the Detroit Lions was filled with positivity, until it wasn’t. The chaotic, embarrassing finish to the game was spurred by Jason Verrett’s knee injury, as the 49ers pulled most of their starters and the Lions mounted a bizarre, two-touchdown comeback within the final two minutes of the game.
Verrett, Kyle Shanahan said afterwards, likely suffered a torn ACL. He described the injury as “crushing,” given the fact that he’s spent the majority of his career recovering from ACL and Achilles injuries. Shanahan said the Raheem Mostert’s injury was not ACL related. Dre Greenlaw was the other player on the report; he suffered a groin injury.
While Shanahan said he’s keeping his “fingers crossed” for Verrett, there is an expectation that the injury news is devastating. There was also this from former 49ers corner Eric Davis, seemingly referring to Verrett.
Literally just got off the phone with my baby bro 2… ACL ?
— Eric Davis (@_ericdavis_) September 12, 2021
Shanahan took the blame for the end of the fourth quarter, saying that when Verrett got hurt, it sat at the forefront of his mind. Despite the score, he said that he felt the game wasn’t over.
“You take guys out when you think the game is out of hand,” Shanahan said. “And I don’t think it was out of hand, even though it might look like that. I’ve been around enough football and seen how quick it can change. When we did lose JV, then it became at the forefront of my mind and that’s a good reminder why you can’t do that.”
The 49ers were relying on Verrett to be their starting corner this season; he was playing at an absolutely elite level in training camp and coming off a stellar season. With Emmanuel Moseley still working back from a knee injury, it puts the 49ers in an even more difficult situation at what was already one of their weakest positions.
Shanahan said he and the front office will spend Sunday night and the following two days evaluating their options at corner, where they will almost certainly have to make a trade or a signing, even if Verrett’s injury isn’t as serious as it’s expected to be.
One player who could be in consideration? Richard Sherman. That’s despite his offseason legal and personal troubles following a car accident and multiple charges related to an alleged DUI.
Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers have talked about bringing Richard Sherman back to Santa Clara.
"Sherm's always a possibility." pic.twitter.com/2RG4TGxclR
— KNBR (@KNBR) September 12, 2021
Despite those offseason issues, Shanahan said that the 49ers have had discussions with Sherman and that there is a possibility he could return.
“Sherm’s always a possibility,” Shanahan said.