49ers notebook: Richard Sherman vows to play against Saints despite painful knee injury
49ers cornerback Richard Sherman struggled to get on the riser for his postgame news conference after his knee got twisted while getting blocked during a running play in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
“My knee gave out on me,” Sherman said. “A lot of pain.”
Sherman vowed he would be fine to play in next week’s pivotal showdown against the New Orleans Saints, though it appears far too soon to make that call.
“I’m good,” the 31-year-old said. “(I’m) just an old man, sometimes it takes a second. I may not practice every day this week, but I will be good to go on Sunday.”
The play happened with 4:41 remaining. Sherman tried getting to the sideline so San Francisco wouldn’t have to use a timeout. He also tried to immediately return to the game as he flexed his knee with the training staff on the sideline.
But he had to sit a play, a 3-yard run, before being allowed back in.
Should Sherman miss time, the 49ers would likely recall Emmanuel Moseley to the starting lineup. Moseley on Sunday didn’t start for the first time since Week 4 because Ahkello Witherspoon returned to the starting lineup after a foot injury sustained against the Steelers in the third game of the year.
The passing defense ultimately performed well against the Ravens and their top-ranked scoring offense. Quarterback Lamar Jackson finished with just 105 yards passing on 14 of 23 completions.
Sherman’s injury isn’t the only one in the secondary the 49ers will have to deal with. Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt left the game on the second play of the third quarter with a rib injury and didn’t return.
He was replaced by Marcell Harris -- who stripped Jackson two plays later to force a crucial takeaway deep in San Francisco territory. It was the first forced fumble and fumble recovery of Harris’ career. He was a sixth-round draft pick in 2018.
Shanahan said he wasn’t sure of the extent of Tartt’s injury.
“I know it’s ribs,” he said. “So anytime somebody hits you, it will get you nervous.”
Shanahan, though, was encouraged by the play from Harris, who had four tackles.
“That was a huge turnover he had,” said Shanahan. “That was one of the big turning points in the game.”
▪ Starting free safety Jimmie Ward went down after landing on his right shoulder while breaking up a long third down-pass late in the third quarter, but he returned in the fourth.
Ward previously fractured his collarbone during the offseason program that caused him to miss time during training camp and the preseason. He sustained a similar injury in Dec. 2016 that landed him on season-ending injured reserve.
▪ Nose tackle D.J. Jones went down at 2:26 in the third quarter but jogged off the field after the training staff examined his left ankle. Shanahan said Jones returned the game.
▪ The 49ers, who came into Sunday with a league-best 44 sacks, saw their streak of eight straight games with three sacks came to an end. DeForest Buckner tapped Jackson for no-gain in the first half.
▪ The Ravens came into the game first in the NFL averaging 433 yards per game. They had just 283 Sunday, their second-lowest total of the season.
Jackson’s 105 passing yards were his lowest of the year, though he eclipsed 100 rushing yards for the fourth time.
▪ Raheem Mostert’s 146 yards were the most of his career, and the most rushing yards by a 49er since Carlos Hyde had 193 last December.
▪ Left tackle Joe Staley missed his ninth game of the season. He entered the weekend questionable to play after having surgery on his right ring finger following the Nov. 11 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
First-year tackle Daniel Brunskill made his fifth start of the season in Staley’s place, and his first at left tackle. He previously filled in on the right side for Mike McGlinchey following surgery to repair a torn meniscus earlier this season.
The Ravens sacked Jimmy Garoppolo twice.
▪ Running back Matt Breida missed his third straight game to rest his bothersome ankle. Tevin Coleman received his seventh start of the season.
▪ Pass rusher Dee Ford missed his second straight game after tweaking his hamstring Nov. 17. Jeremiah Valoaga made his season debut after getting promoted from the practice this week when Damontre Moore had season-ending surgery to repair a fractured forearm.
▪ Kicker Robbie Gould was back after a quadriceps injury to his right kicking leg sidelined that sidelined him before the Seattle game. He missed three games and was replaced by rookie Chase McLaughlin, who made 7 of 8 attempts in Gould’s stead.
Gould entered the game having made 13 of 20 kicks on the season. He went 1 of 2 on Sunday as he had a 51-yard attempt at the end of the second quarter deflected by defensive back Marlon Humphrey..
▪ Receiver Dante Pettis was ruled out of the game Friday after spraining his knee during practice Wednesday. Shanahan said Pettis is considered week to week.
This story was originally published December 1, 2019 at 4:12 PM.
