Kyle Shanahan Confirms Jimmie Ward and Jason Verrett Expected Back at Practice Wednesday

The good news just keeps on coming for Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers.

After taking down their NFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, Monday night the San Francisco 49ers will look to get even healthier on defense this week with two key players coming back to the practice field.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Tuesday that safety Jimmie Ward (hamstring) and cornerback Jason Verrett (knee) are returning to practice Wednesday, opening up their window to return this season.

“Yeah, they’re eligible to return this week. We expect to get them out there tomorrow,” Shanahan said via conference call.

Ward has been on the short-term IR since sustaining a significant hamstring injury during the preseason, forcing him to miss the first four games of the regular season. Meanwhile, Verrett has been on the PUP list to open the year, recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 1 of the 2021 season. Both have a 21-day window to return after their first official practice, otherwise, they will be out for the remainder of the season.

Both former pro bowl selections, the additions of Ward and Verrett will only make the 49ers’ elite defense stronger, quite possibly the best unit Shanahan has had during his tenure in The Bay.

The 49ers defense is ranked:

– 1st in points allowed

– T-1st in total defense

– 2nd in passing yards allowed

– 2nd in rushing yards allowed

pic.twitter.com/s8DxtJJUbq

— Jordan Elliott (@splash_cousin) October 4, 2022

“I believe it has the opportunity to be [the best]. I think at this time with just how well we’re covering on the outside, how nice are safeties have played together, having the depth of getting Jimmie back, hopefully getting Jason Verrett in there. And [Deommodore Lenoir] these last couple of weeks, has really stepped it up too. So I’m not going to say we’re there yet, but I do believe that we have that opportunity to be and I expect us to be a force when it’s said and done,” Shanahan stated.

No unit is complete without their coach and defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans has done a good job with the 49ers this season, now ranked first in points allowed at 11.5 points per game. Only a second-year defensive coordinator, Ryans will surely have head coaching offers in the offseason, and for good reason, as they love him in the Bay.

Don't let DeMeco Ryans leave. Ever.

— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) September 26, 2022

“DeMeco is just DeMeco, so naturally talented and I mean he’s good at everything he’s ever done,” Shanahan said. “And he really understands football, he did as a player, he did as a quality control coach in his first year, he did as a linebacker coach and he has as a coordinator.”

It wasn’t all good news for the Red & Gold Tuesday as Shanahan also confirmed that offensive tackle Colton McKivitz suffered an MCL sprain Monday night, forcing him to be out for almost two months. Reserve tackle Jaylon Moore will likely step in for McKivitz while OL Daniel Brunskill also remains an option, according to the head coach.

Despite the injuries, the 49ers offensive line held up against the Rams, allowing only a few pressures and keeping All-Pro DT Aaron Donald in check.

“I was really impressed with them, just as a whole group,” Shanahan praised his O-Line. “It was a huge challenge as always going against that team, with the personnel they have on the D-Line and all the different fronts they do. I thought we made much fewer mistakes than the week before and there was a lot more challenges with just the mental part of the game with all the different [protections]. So I thought they were really great at picking things up and they also gave [QB] Jimmy [Garoppolo] a lot of time when we needed it.”

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