Richard Sherman praises 49ers secondary heading into 2022

Watching from afar, Richard Sherman offered up some pretty hefty praise in the 49ers’ direction with regards to their defensive backfield entering 2022.

During his three-year run with the San Francisco 49ers, perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman never shied away from heaping praise on his fellow teammates within the Niners secondary.

And while Sherman’s hype was often directed in a number of different directions, he especially took time to call out others in the defensive backfield who weren’t getting the attention he felt they deserved.

Back then, at least in 2019, the names he didn’t hesitate to call out were defensive backs Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt and Emmanuel Moseley.

Tartt might be gone now, joining the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason, but Ward and Moseley remain. Those two, plus some new faces within San Francisco’s secondary since Sherman left, are continuing to earn more praise from “Uncle Sherm.”

Richard Sherman bullish on 49ers secondary

On Thursday, the 49ers defense showed some thump against quarterback Trey Lance and the offense on day two of training camp practices.

Moseley and Ward were particularly effective, the latter picking off Lance. But one of the Niners’ newest additions, cornerback Charvarius Ward, also made his presence known, too.

That new face, combined with some of San Francisco’s returning veterans, prompted Sherman to speak his mind later that day:

“Before this season is over there will be a lot of chatter about this @49ers secondary being amongst the best in football,” Sherman posted on Twitter. “Mark it down. @itslilmooney and @Mannymoseley are a problem! Jimmie Ward has been playing at a ProBowl level for years and look for @TalanoaHufanga to shine.”

Sherman, who spent a portion of 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, remains a free agent but will work with Amazon on their coverage of Thursday Night Football this season.

And while the 49ers may no longer be considering a reunion with him, it’s hard to ignore the fact he left his mark, one which is apparently showing in a big way early into training camp.