Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh always warns not to pay too much attention to which 49ers players with the starters line up at positions where leagues take place.
That the fact that veteran cornerback Jason Verrett ran with the defense of the first team is not big news.
But it is noteworthy that Verrett appears solidary in a competition for a starting job.
Emmanuel Moseley finished last season as the starting opposite of Richard Sherman. Ahkello Witherspoon was the starter late in the season and in the playoffs before Moseley replaced him. Verrett seems to be on an equal footing, as the 49ers aim to determine which player gives them the best chance of winning games.
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Verrett had an up-and-coming day on Sunday in the 49ers’ second practice of training camp.
He delivered a deep touchdown during 7-on-7 drills when rookie receiver Brandon Aiyuk hit him deep and took a pass from Jimmy Garoppolo about 35 yards into the field.
Verrett gave Shawn Poindexter a quick hug. He had good coverage against George Kittle on an imperfect pass. Later, Kittle beat him for a 15-yard win.
The biggest hurdle for Verrett will be to stay healthy and get back to the practice field day after day back in the stream. He can not be expected to be perfect, but as long as he practices, he has a chance to beat rust and win a starting job.
Verrett’s career has been cut short due to injuries. He has been in the NFL since 2014, but only appeared once in more than six games in a season. That year, 2015, he was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team.
“When I look at Jason, I know he’s a really funny guy who loves playing football,” 49s Trent Taylor said. ‘He has a real passion for it. You can tell by the way he plays, by the way he attacks every day. I think he can finally be a great piece for us there. ”
[RELATED: 49ers’ Trent Taylor sees himself as Jimmy Garoppolo’s running mate]Verrett spent his first five NFL seasons with the Chargers, where he could not stay healthy long enough to establish himself.
Verrett missed the last 12 games of 2016 with a torn ACL. After missing early in the following season, when he continued to recover from the knee injury, he suffered a shoulder injury to the season. He played in just one game that season.
In 2018, he acquired an accomplished Achilles for the season, while at the beginning of the camp he participated in a conditioning source. Last year, after signing a one-year contract with the 49ers, he struggled through one game before moving on to IR with a knee condition.
