First Ahkello Witherspoon and then Jason Verrett, now the San Francisco 49ers are trying to address the injuries to their secondary in any way possible. They signed Teez Tabor to the practice squad Monday and per Matt Barrows, they aren’t done.
In addition to Tabor going to the practice squad, the 49ers also want a cornerback to the active roster. Who that second, mystery cornerback is, is anyone’s guess but it sounds like the 49ers want to get something short-term and something long term.
So the question is, who could it be? Kyle threw some names out earlier, some of which include Dontae Johnson (...goodie...). David Amerson, and Coty Sensabaugh. If this is short-term help while Jason Verrett and Ahkello Witherspoon recover from injuries, I’d put my money on Johnson. Yes, he’s switched teams more than some people change pants, but any of those other names doesn’t just provide a fresh face, but someone unfamiliar with the scheme. The good news with Johnson is he at least knows how Robert Saleh’s defense is ran having had some experience in it. The cornerback market isn’t exactly booming these days when it’s Week 4 of the regular season.
This is a case where there may not be a ‘good’ option. The 49ers have D.J. Reed also, and while it’s too early to give up on him, he’s a work in progress at this point since he’s been transitioning back from safety. I’ve read some people suggesting the lack of cornerbacks may mean the 49ers look that direction in the draft for 2020. That’s a long ways off, but cornerback might not be what the 49ers want. Especially in the first round. Richard Sherman can still be extended for a few more years and what he brings in leadership is invaluable. Plus it’s not like this is Sherman’s final year either. And again: we don’t know what the 49ers have in Reed and probably won’t know until the 2020 season rolls around.
All that is certain is the loss of Witherspoon hurts. Last year he was getting slammed with criticism for some inconsistent play and this year he’s been lights out and working on maxing out the 49ers’ salary cap. This musical chairs will probably keep going long after the Cleveland game. Witherspoon is out for at least a month, and if the 49ers win the next two games, I’d be even more keen to not rush him back so he can help out in a possible playoff scenario.
Who do the 49ers bring to the active roster? Anybody?