SANTA CLARA — Richard Sherman is back — to an extent.
During Thursday’s opening training camp practice of the 2018 season, the three-time All-Pro played in the non-padded session with his new team, as expected. Thursday marks the first time he participated in team drills since rupturing his Achilles last November with the Seattle Seahawks.
Sherman had a largely uneventful debut practice. He regularly sagged off in coverage and never really tested himself in a one-on-one, press-coverage situation. He was not thrown to, whether deliberately or not. That should not be surprising, considering the 49ers plan for Sherman to sit out one practice for every two he plays. The thinking was similar Thursday, though on a smaller scale — he rotated every two snaps with Jimmie Ward.
Despite these cautionary moves, Sherman, who turned 30 in March, said Wednesday he feels “100 percent.” Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh reiterated that after Thursday’s practice.
“Athletically, (he) looks the same,” Saleh said. “Looks great.”
That may be player and coach-speak, but the mere sight of Sherman moving around is positive reinforcement for 49ers fans. Until pads are involved, which starts Saturday, we won’t have a great feel for Sherman’s speed and agility. That thought adds to the mystique of his return and lends itself to one of the burning questions of the 49ers’ season: can he return to his Pro Bowl self?
Only time will tell. But Sherman’s presence has been felt since he arrived, imparting his knowledge and leadership upon his new teammates and coaches. His football IQ and well-documented film study regimen are what makes the likely future Hall of Famer so unique.
“He was talking to me the entire practice, and [defensive backs coach Jeff] coach Hafley about the little indicators that our offense gives,” Saleh said. “Just little things here and there and just talking. But, he’s so into it mentally with regards to football.”
Expect the 49ers to remain cautious with Sherman throughout the preseason. He’s too important to a cornerback unit that lacks experienced depth. And while Thursday didn’t show much, it was the first step to a return, giving 49ers fans the sight of No. 25 in scarlet and gold, which may take some adjusting.
Joshua Garnett gets his chance
Garnett was on the wrong side of the injury bug last season. Now he’s getting a chance to prove himself with his competition hobbled.
That would be Jonathan Cooper, the former Dallas Cowboys guard who signed a one-year deal with the 49ers this offseason. He opened camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list as he continues to recover from an MCL injury that required surgery in January.
Garnett took reps with the first-team offense Thursday and did not allow any hurries or sacks. Laken Tomlinson started at left guard. The right guard spot is one of two open position battles that Kyle Shanahan has highlighted. Garnett will compete with Cooper and Mike Person, who played with the second-team Thursday.
Cooper has withstood a long, trying two years in the NFL. After struggling during his rookie season, he was placed on injured reserve before his second career season started in 2017. He was surprised, thinking the injury was not serious enough to sideline him the whole year, but the 49ers coaching staff challenged him to improve his physical condition entering Year No 3.
Garnett responded this offseason, losing about 20 pounds, better eqipping him for Shanahan’s outside-zone heavy offense.
“I see a guy who’s really going for it,” Shanahan said in May. “I’ve been very proud of how he’s handled his year off. Some guys when they go through that, they can get down, especially the surprise it was for him when it happened. He really took advantage of his year off.”
Witherspoon and Goodwin stand out
Two of the most impressive players in Thursday’s practice regularly lined up against each other: Marquise Goodwin and Ahkello Witherspoon.
The 49ers punctuated practice with a few different 11-on-11 drills. On one play, Witherspoon jumped Goodwin’s post route and swatted the ball away before wagging his finger like Dikembe Mutombo. Later in practice, Goodwin got the better of Witherspoon, blazing by the second-year corner for about a 25-yard completion over the middle. Goodwin caught three long passes from Jimmy Garoppolo in total, which were three of the offense’s most productive plays all morning.
The back-and-forth battle provided some entertaining competition for Day No. 1. Both Witherspoon and Goodwin looked explosive and sharp in their cuts.
Witherspoon has arguably progressed more than any 49ers player in a year’s span. Sherman has mentored Witherspoon this summer, including him in an exclusive cornerback summit comprised of the league’s top cornerbacks. Sherman feels the 23-year-old has that potential, which he flashed Thursday.
“When he got here (during his rookie year in 2017), he was this little, scrawny corner that everyone said wouldn’t hit anybody,” Saleh said. “He’s turned into a man. If you look at him, he has great presence out on the football field.”
Both Witherspoon and Goodwin are coming off big years. Witherspoon played himself into a starting role midway through the season and proved he belonged, tying for the team lead in passes defended (seven) and interceptions (two).
Meanwhile, Goodwin morphed from an obscure speedster to an integral part of the 49ers passing game that blossomed down the stretch. Goodwin led the 49ers with a career-high 962 receiving yards and averaged 96 yards per game during a five-week stretch late in the season. He was rewarded with a three-year contract extension in March.