SF 49ers vs. Cowboys: 3 best individual performances from Week 15

No. 3: SF 49ers CB Ahkello Witherspoon

Given his recent history, it almost seems strange to be talking about cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon in a positive light.

After being a healthy scratch in recent weeks in spite of the SF 49ers being thin at the position, a late illness for fellow corner Jason Verrett forced Witherspoon not only onto the active roster but into the starting lineup opposite Richard Sherman.

And Witherspoon responded with not only his best outing of 2020 but likely his best performance since suffering a foot injury during Week 3 of the 2019 season after starting last year off quite well and looking like the player the team saw when it drafted him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Per Pro Football Focus, Witherspoon allowed just two receptions on six targets against Dallas’ talented receiving corps for a total of just 13 yards. His 86.9 overall grade, to go along with an 88.8 coverage score, were both tops on the team.

Cornerback is part of that extensive list of pending free agents the SF 49ers have to worry about this coming offseason, and while it seems likely that he’ll be plying his trade somewhere else in 2021, maybe his play on Sunday earned him a chance to get a run of games to finish the season and prove he could be an option for next season.

He’s spent a lot of time in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse over the last few seasons, but if he can maintain solid play, there’s no reason he can’t be in consideration as a low-cost free agent returnee.