SANTA CLARA — The 49ers didn't merely lose cornerback Jason Verrett to a different season-ending leg harm in a profession rift with them. When he tore his left Achilles in Wednesday’s observe, it completely crushed the staff’s morale.
“It took the life out of everyone in observe, actually,” vast receiver Deebo Samuel mentioned Thursday.
“There hasn’t been like a quietness over a soccer area that I’ve been round like that for a very long time,” tight finish George Kittle added. “It simply sucks your soul out just a little bit.”
Verrett’s harm, the newest and maybe closing of his nine-year profession, got here as he appeared on the verge of his season debut, having battled again from an anterior cruciate ligament tear in final season’s opener.
This harm occurred in non-contact trend throughout observe, robbing the protection of Verrett’s veteran savvy abilities at cornerback and impacting a whole locker room that’s admired Verrett’s fortitude to battle by means of so many earlier accidents.
“As you'd anticipate, it’s a somber temper,” defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans mentioned. “All these guys have seen him work on the facet. The power he delivered to the staff working, it was uplifting. So once you see him go down, it’s a somber temper for everybody.”
That included coach Kyle Shanahan, who Samuel mentioned was initially speechless as he gathered the staff and requested whether or not they need to resume observe. Shanahan mentioned on KNBR Thursday that Verrett’s harm was among the many worst he’s seen on the observe area.
“It was so laborious to look at. He knew immediately,” Shanahan mentioned. “It was actual unhappy for everyone.”
“That will be the final man I wish to see on this staff go down, understanding all of the issues he’s been by means of,” Samuel mentioned of Verrett, an in depth good friend who sat courtside at Warriors’ playoff video games final spring. “So we huddled up as a staff, everyone prayed for him, and we tried our greatest to complete observe.”
As an alternative of debuting in Sunday night time’s residence recreation towards his authentic staff, the Chargers, Verrett, 31, now faces one other spherical of rehabilitation, a scene the Fairfield native painfully has repeated all through his nine-year NFL profession. He’s torn each of his Achilles tendons (proper in 2018, left on Wednesday) and each ACLs (left in 2016, proper in 2021).
Verrett posted a message Thursday on his Instagram Story within the wake of the harm that learn partially, “Chin up and Chest out all the time!!”
“It was a tragic second for the DBs. All of us have been prepared for him to return again and showcase his expertise,” cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. “He’s pushed plenty of us to get higher, to take a look at our approach and see the larger image in enjoying DB.”
Verrett has missed 85 of his groups’ previous 101 video games, so it’s not as if the 49ers have been completely banking on him for a second-half push to the playoffs this season, even when there was hope he might at the very least platoon with a youthful cornerback, as coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged previous to Wednesday’s ill-fated observe.
He joined the 49ers in 2019 and entered this season on his fourth one-year contract. He performed 13 video games in, paradoxically, the 49ers’ injury-marred 2020 season, however he was restricted to only one recreation in every of the 2017, ’19 and ’21 seasons, and he missed all of 2020.
“It was bizarre. It was emotional,” Jimmy Garoppolo mentioned. “You see it on a regular basis, however in our locker room, for a man you’ve been a brother with for so long as Jason (since 2019), you’ve seen him undergo the method of harm after harm, and simply grinding to return again, it’s simply robust once you see a man go down like that.”
Noooooo!!! @Jfeeva_2 prayers up man! Been by means of a lot!
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) November 10, 2022
I’m asking everybody who sees this to please pray for JV. Strongest man I do know.. this one cuts deep. https://t.co/hjDVYsbDyU
— Jordan Matthews (@jmattjmattjmatt) November 10, 2022
Drafted No. 25 general in 2014 by the Chargers, Verrett has solely performed 40 video games in his profession, beginning 36 of them. Essentially the most video games he ever performed was in his 2015 All-Professional sophomore season with the Chargers, when he had three interceptions and 12 passes defended.
In final 12 months’s season opener, he tore his proper knee’s anterior cruciate ligament within the 49ers’ win at Detroit. He was activated to the 53-man roster Oct. 27, however didn't go well with up for the 49ers’ ensuing win on the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 30, previous to final weekend’s bye. Verrett opened the season on the physically-unable-to-perform listing after lacking coaching camp, and the 49ers have eased him into practices the previous month, together with a prescribed restricted position in Wednesday’s fateful session.
Ryans mentioned Verrett’s standing for Sunday’s recreation trusted how he practiced this week and that the 49ers have been prepared to remain affected person with him.
“Simply an unlucky, devastating harm for him, and for us,” Ryans mentioned. “All of us really feel for J.V. We all know the work he put in to return again. We’re all saddened by it. He’s an unbelievable particular person and chief. He’s given us every little thing he has.
“We’re praying he’ll bounce again and recuperate. He’s been by means of it earlier than.”
Subsequent up for that 49ers’ move protection are the Chargers, who tout third-year quarterback Justin Herbert however might once more be with out vast receivers Keenan Allen (hamstring) and Mike Williams (ankle), neither of whom have practiced this week.
With out Verrett coming to the rescue, the 49ers’ cornerback corps will forge forward with projected starters Charvarius Ward and Lenoir. That will preserve Jimmie Ward at nickel again quite than his desired spot of free security. In reserve are Sam Womack III, Ambry Thomas, Dontae Johnson, Qwuantrezz Knight and Ka’Dar Hollman, the latter three of whom are on the observe squad.
The 49ers misplaced beginning cornerback Emmanuel Moseley to a torn ACL on Oct. 9.
Verrett’s harm continued a troubling development of 49ers getting damage on the observe area following an off day. That additionally simply occurred to defensive finish Samson Ebukam, who injured a quadriceps in Monday’s transient session and didn't observe Wednesday or Thursday.
“He’s had a slew of actually, actually dangerous luck,” Kittle mentioned of Verrett. “It sucks to see that, as a result of everybody right here loves J.V. I do know he loves being part of this staff. He’s an enormous a part of this staff, whether or not he’s on the sector or off it.”
Garoppolo countered his emotional swing — “Prayers up for him. I like that man, man. I really feel for him.” — with the truth that accidents are a part of the sport. “There was a second yesterday the place it was awkward and form of quiet,” Garoppolo added. “You must transfer on, as cold-hearted because it sounds. It’s a part of the enterprise.”
— Additionally lacking from observe was defensive lineman Arik Armstead (foot, ankle); linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf) was restricted; guard Aaron Banks returned after spending Wednesday attending the beginning of his son.