SF 49ers: 3 positions with most concern after roster cuts

SF 49ers Cornerbacks

53-Man Roster: Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon, K’Waun Williams, Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley

Practice Squad: Tim Harris Jr., Dontae Johnson

Depending on how one views it, San Francisco’s stable of cornerbacks could either be a boost and deep enough, or it could be a noticeable liability.

There’s little need to question the No. 1 option on the depth chart, veteran corner Richard Sherman, although there’s always room to worry about a player’s health when he’s on the wrong side of 30 years old. But the bigger question remains: Who starts opposite him on the boundary?

Initially, signs pointed to oft-injured corner Jason Verrett assuming this role after he shined in training camp. Yet Verrett, who has appeared in just six regular-season games dating back to the start of 2016, is dealing with a minor hamstring injury, raising more concerns about his durability for the rest of the year.

This would presumably lead to the conclusion Emmanuel Moseley gets the start, occupying the role he held for both the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl last season.

The 49ers elected not to keep a backup nickel corner to guard against an injury to the starter, K’Waun Williams, although Moseley and free safety Jimmie Ward worked as nickel defensive backs both last season and during training camp.

So, that could be an example of this unit’s depth and versatility. But doing so, in the event of a would-be Williams injury, would ultimately force some other questions either at safety or on the boundary.

The Niners seem to love having Dontae Johnson around in some capacity or another. His trend of being cut and re-signed by San Francisco continued into 2020.