49ers, Texans joint practice roundup: Dante Pettis shines again, Joshua Garnett working with first-team unit
By Peter Panacy
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon Looks Good
For most of training camp, second-year cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon hasn’t exactly looked like the starting option most 49ers fans had hoped for. In many cases, he had been burned by Niners receivers and looked bad in the process.
Perhaps that changed Thursday, especially with Witherspoon having to cover DeAndre Hopkins — another matchup fans should watch during both teams’ preseason game Saturday.
Witherspoon did give up a 20-yard completion to Hopkins on his first go. According to Joe Fann of 49ers.com, the Niners defensive back answered back by drawing an offensive pass-interference call and then nearly had an interception on the third rep covering Houston’s star receiver.
Not bad, considering Hopkins is the kind of receiver who can make the best cornerbacks look bad on every rep.
After practice, Hopkins ended up getting some extra work in with fellow 49ers starting cornerback Richard Sherman: