The 49ers Expect to Sign Jason Verrett to the Practice Squad

SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers are getting creative.

They need a cornerback desperately, so this week they worked out veteran cornerback Jason Verrett, who played for the 49ers from 2019 to 2022. Verrett is now 32, and coming off an Achilles tear he suffered last season in training camp, plus an ACL tear he suffered in Week 1 of 2021. Most recently, he spent more than a month on the Houston Texans practice squad until they released him.

"When we worked him out, everyone said it was good," Shanahan said on Friday. "I think you guys know how I feel about J.V., so it's amazing that he is even back and able to do that stuff. So, if we got a chance, we'd love to get him in here."

Does that mean signing him to the 53-man roster or the practice squad?

"Most likely practice squad," Shanahan said. "That's what he was on at Houston. So that's what we're looking into him right now, but nothing official yet."

Verrett is from Fairfield, so it's possible he'd rather play on a practice squad close to home than one in Houston. Also, it's conceivable that he could get a chance to play with the 49ers at some point in the playoffs if they make it that far. Or he could simply be another coach in the meeting room.

“J.V. has been one of the most respected guys we've had in our building," Shanahan said. "Just the way he carries himself, how talented he is and just look at his footwork and how he played with us, like guys always looked up to him in that way. I think he was a mentor to a lot of guys, but it was just the perseverance and how he carried himself that guys loved. I've never seen, when he did work out here, the first time about a month ago or whatever it was, we had about seven players just go out and watch it, which I've never seen that before. So, it just shows how our team felt about him."