49ers notebook: Richard Sherman returns, Kwon Alexander ‘long shot’ to come back
The 49ers got some good injury news after missing three key players while trying to defend Julio Jones at the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Cornerback Richard Sherman (hamstring) and slot corner K’Waun Williams (concussion) were listed as full participants in Tuesday’s walkthrough as San Francisco prepares for Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Sherman sustained his injury on the final series in New Orleans on Dec. 8 and missed his first game of the season against Atlanta on Sunday. Williams’ head injury also came in the fourth quarter of the win over the Saints.
The signs are pointing to Sherman returning to the lineup after Jones torched San Francisco’s defense for 134 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 2 seconds remaining.
“Sherm has been better since he got in the locker room at New Orleans, according to him,” Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday. “And because he has that mindset is what gives him a chance to be better. I know our trainers feel good with letting him go out today. It will be a walkthrough and stuff. But, we’ll be able to test that a little bit more tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, San Francisco at practice was still without defensive end Dee Ford, who is in danger of missing his fourth game in five weeks after aggravating his hamstring injury just four snaps into his return in New Orleans. Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt (fractured rib) and defensive lineman Jullian Taylor (elbow) also sat out.
Right guard Mike Person was limited with a sore neck.
Kwon Alexander working to come back off IR
Linebacker Kwon Alexander, the ringleader of “Hot Boyzz” and emotional spark plug of the defense, has rehabbing diligently in hopes of returning off injured reserve for the playoffs.
That news was first broke on receiver Kendrick Bourne’s Instagram, though Shanahan indicated Alexander has a remote chance of returning to the field in January after tearing his pectoral during the Oct. 31 win in Arizona.
“It would be awesome if he could, but I mean, it’s a really big injury and that would be down the road,” Shanahan said. “There would be an outside chance at it, but we haven’t ruled it out.”
Shanahan noted that Alexander, like Sherman, has a penchant for returning from injuries sooner than expected. He was a fully cleared early in training camp over the summer coming off an ACL tear sustained the previous October as a member of the Buccaneers.
“Kwon thought he could have come back the next week (after the injury), you know?” Shanahan said. “They’re made of the right stuff. When you think that way, even though it’s your mind, sometimes your body will follow. So we won’t rule it out, but it’s a longshot and it’s not any time soon.”
The 49ers used one of their two return designations off injured reserve by activating defensive lineman Kentavius Street for last week’s game in Atlanta. Cornerback Jason Verrett, who went on IR with a knee injury following the Week 3 win over Pittsburgh, is the other option to be given the designation. Receivers Trent Taylor (foot) and Jalen Hurd (back) had already been ruled out from playing this season.
