The San Francisco 49ers, led by cost-effective quarterback Brock Purdy and potential MVP contender Christian McCaffrey, have already secured the NFC West as well as the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC. Following a disappointing 19-33 loss against the Baltimore Ravens, they buckled up in Week 17 by smashing the Washington Commanders 27-10.
Moving forward to the season finale, the 49ers have little at stake in their Week 18 contest with the Los Angeles Rams. They might be using the game to record their second straight 13-win season. Amid the glory of securing a playoff race, misfortune struck the team as their veteran cornerback, Jason Verrett, fell prey to an unfortunate injury.
Jason Verrett to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery
Jason Verrett’s comeback season with the San Francisco 49ers has been cut short due to a devastating shoulder injury. The cornerback, who was set to be elevated from the practice squad, suffered a torn rotator cuff during a routine practice. The severity of the injury necessitates surgery, putting him out of the field for an estimated four-to-six months and effectively ending his season, via Bleacher Report.
The incident occurred when the CB leaped for a ball during 49ers practice Thursday, only to land awkwardly on his shoulder. The team’s head coach, Kyle Shanahan, shared the unfortunate news, saying, “He was hoping not to get an MRI. He slept on it, came in this morning, and was still hurting. (The MRI) showed he had a tear and needed surgery.”
Jason Varett’s name itself sounds similar to injuries, as he sustained multiple injuries throughout the years but remained optimistic. Shanahan commended the player’s handling of the adversity and reflected on his journey back to the field.
“He handles it like he does everything, like a man. But you know how it is. He’s going to be pretty down for a little bit. I hope he hangs around here because we all love him around here. I think that could help him. And this will pass, like it always does. He had a long road to get back to this point and I just told him I can’t believe how good he’s looked.”
Verrett’s comeback to the 49ers this season was greeted with excitement following his extended absence from the field since Week 1 of the 2021 season due to injury. After being signed to the practice squad in December, the team has been getting the veteran ready to take on a bigger role in the later part of the regular season.
Being promoted to the active roster for the Christmas Day game against the Baltimore Ravens was a major milestone in his comeback journey. However, unfortunately, misfortune struck him once more.
Complete history of Jason Verrett’s injuries
Unquestionable talent and promise have characterized Jason Verrett’s NFL career, but a turbulent string of injuries has also hampered it. Since being selected as the first-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2014, his career has been a rollercoaster of hope and setbacks.
The CB’s rookie year set the tone for an injury-prone path, which forced him to miss 10 games while battling through six. The following year, in 2015, he grappled with a groin injury during Week 9, but managed to return after a bye week. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury kept him out of the season finale, though he showcased his skill at the Pro Bowl a few weeks later.
The 2016 season took another devastating turn as the veteran endured a torn left ACL, which sidelined him for the last 12 games. Adding woe to the injury, another knee injury in Week 1 in 2017 brought his season to an abrupt halt. The pattern persisted, amplifying with a torn Achilles that robbed the footballer of the entire 2018 season, while his brief appearance in 2019 also ended abruptly due to an ankle injury.
A flicker of hope emerged in 2020 as Jason Verrett enjoyed relative health, participating in 13 games. However, the cruel hands of fate struck him again in 2021’s Week 1, as a torn ACL in his right knee forced him to watch from the sidelines for the rest of the season.
The 2022 season further added to his injury woes, as the toll of knee and Achilles issues sidelined him for the entirety of 2022. In 2023, he could only manage one game appearance, and now, once again, his season ended abruptly. In total, the CB has managed to appear in only 41 of approximately 163 games in his one-decade NFL career.
