San Francisco 49ers: 3 players off to slow start at training camp
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers Cornerback Jason Verrett
The Niners regularly fielded veteran cornerback Jason Verrett working with the first-team unit instead of last year’s starter, Emmanuel Moseley.
Despite Verrett’s injury history and seeing just two defensive snaps last season, San Francisco seemingly thought enough of the one-time Pro Bowler to bring him back on a one-year deal for 2020.
But the early results haven’t necessarily been pretty.
On another play Cam Inman described, Brandon Aiyuk was able to outwork Verrett for a touchdown grab:
"Aiyuk glided down the left sideline, got a step past cornerback Jason Verrett, and didn’t break stride making an over-the-shoulder catch on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo."
And Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn reinforced some of the difficulties Verrett was apparently having on the field:
"Took all the reps opposite Sherman with the first-team defense and gave up a 50-yard touchdown catch to Aiyuk. Let him run right by. The play looked like the touchdown catch Jason Verrett gave up against the Steelers last season. Might be time for him to retire. He’s just not the same player he was before the injuries."
Remember those two snaps Verrett had against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3 last year? The first was a pass-interference call, and the second was that aforementioned touchdown.
Verrett isn’t a needed commodity on San Francisco’s roster despite some depth shortages there, and it’ll be vital for him to showcase some of those playmaking skills he flashed much earlier in his career if he hopes to hang onto a roster spot.