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The third of cornerback Jason Verrett’s first four seasons with the 49ers is over and he is on the injured reserve.
Now, he is officially back with the club as a member of the practice squad, announced by the 49ers.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers’ hope for Verrett and the team is open. First, Shanahan said, Verrett must prove himself on the field while working against the team’s starting offense.
“When you’re on the practice squad, you’re only a few games away from being a starter or just being out there on game days, ” Shanahan said.
“He can try to show us that he’s ready for now and, hopefully, give us some depth there when we get a chance to see him.”
Verrett, 32, spent a month on the Houston Texans’ practice squad this offseason. After his release, Verrett attended a workout with the 49ers on November 16 in Santa Clara.
The 49ers offered him a spot on the practice squad. After considering his future, Verrett agreed late last week to rejoin the 49ers, according to NBC Sports Bay Area.
Verrett’s return to the 49ers is unrelated to the injury to cornerback Charvarius Ward, who was out for just four games Sunday in the team’s win over Seattle. Seahawks 28-16.
Verrett attended the game at Levi’s Field in Santa Clara and greeted some of his teammates in the locker room afterward.
He could give the 49ers valuable insurance behind the team’s top three cornerbacks: Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and Ambry Thomas.
Verrett showed what he can do for the 49ers in 2020, when he started 13 games and played at a high level. He recorded two accidents.
The 49ers re-signed Verrett to a one-year contract, and he opened the 2021 season as a starter. However, he sustained a torn ACL at the end of the season in a start with the Detroit Lions.
He signed another one-year deal last year. Verrett was in the process of returning to the field after his 2022 season ended with an Achilles tear in practice.
Since entering the NFL in 2014 as a first-round pick for the Chargers, Verrett has played in just 40 games and started 36. In his second year in the league, he played in 14 games and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
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