49ers Jason Verrett suffers shoulder injury; set for season-ending surgery

Jan 5, 2024, 2:30 PM | Updated: 2:43 pm

Jason Verrett #22 of the San Francisco 49ers motions down field during NFL game against the Buffalo...

(Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

Unfortunately, the 49ers head into their regular-season finale with a bit of bad news surrounding Jason Verrett.

The long-time cornerback suffered a shoulder injury at practice Thursday, now set for season-ending rotator cuff surgery. This is Verrett’s sixth season-ending injury of his NFL career, already working back from a torn ACL and Achilles in back-to-back seasons.

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan delivered the news Friday, heartbroken for the veteran CB.

“It’s crushing for him. It’s a shoulder injury, but not a knee or leg,” Shanahan stated to the media.

San Francisco had hoped Verrett could feature prominently Week 18 against the LA Rams, now shelved for the next four to six months.

Jason Verrett, 32, has been an inspiration to the 49ers thanks to his resilience to overcome setbacks. A 2014 Pro Bowler, the Farfield native has only featured in 21 contests since 2016. He originally joined the Red & Gold in 2021, suffering a season-ending injury Week 1. Then, he returned to the 49ers a year later, suffered another lower-body injury in practice.

While the veteran cover-man has expressed his desire to continue his NFL career, the odds have been stacked against him the last few years.

Jason Verrett jumped up for a ball, landed on his shoulder in an awkward position and will have to undergo season-ending rotator cuff surgery.

The plan was for him to play extensively on Sunday, but he’s suffered his sixth season-ending injury #49ers

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 5, 2024

Trent Williams among 49ers starters to play Week 18

Despite Week 18 being meaningless for playoff standings, a slew of 49ers starters will feature in the game, including Trent Williams.

Th 49ers star left tackle is among many starters playing against the Rams. Other big names include linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.

While San Francisco can’t improve their playoff standings any further, Week 18 could serve as a precursor to the postseason, with the Rams a likely opponent if they advance out of Wild-Card Weekend.

#49ers game status vs LARams
OUT
DT Arik Armstead
RB Christian McCaffrey
TE Ross Dwelley
CB Ambry Thomas
S Tashaun Gipson
S J'Ayir Brown

Questionable
OL Jon Feliciano
WR Jauan Jennings
WR Ray-Ray McCloud
WR Danny Gray

— Jennifer Lee Chan – threads @jenniferleechan (@jenniferleechan) January 5, 2024

The 49ers will have slow of starters resting Sunday, including quarterback Brock Purdy. San Francisco’s Pro Bowl gunslinger will yield to backup Sam Darnold for one week, set to serve as the third emergency QB.

Additionally, the Red & Gold will keep players out due to injury, including running back Christian McCaffrey. “CMC” has a mild calf strain from Week 17, using the extended break to recover fully. Joining him on the sidelines is DT Arik Armstead, cornerback Ambry Thomas and safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and Tashaun Gipson.

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