Cornerback Jason Verrett spoke with reporters via Zoom on Thursday and discussed the phenomenal year he is having with the San Francisco 49ers. The cornerback has spent more time on injured reserve during his seven NFL seasons than he has played.
Verrett is showing the NFL what he is capable of now that he is healthy. The cornerback said this week that he feels like he's back at a Pro Bowl level — referencing his one completely healthy season in 2015 when he earned a Pro Bowl selection.
Verrett feels like he owes that to the 49ers and praised the organization for sticking with him and how it handled his injury last season. Verrett returned from his Achilles injury for one game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, and that was it. Things just didn't look or feel right. That's when he returned to injured reserve for the fifth year in his pro career.
"Last year just was a lot, coming back from an ACL, coming back from an Achilles," Verrett explained. "Those are tough injuries. And I just think the Niners did a god job of noticing that, noticing that I needed rest, noticed that I needed time to get my body stronger and healthier.
"So I think the IR situation for me last year ended up working out. I got my speed back. I got my strength back. And fast forward to where I am now, those injuries are behind me."
Verrett didn't do it alone, though. He had the support of so many people. That was apparent on Sunday night when he hauled in an interception off a Jared Goff-thrown pass against the Los Angeles Rams.
"I got a lot of messages (from) family, old coaches, old teammates," Verrett shared. "You know, it felt good just because a lot of the guys that texted me, they know what it is that I went through. They know how hard I worked to get back to where I am.
"But it was definitely overwhelming hearing from old coaches, old GMs, teammates. It was definitely just a blessing, and I'm just looking forward to doing that each and every week."
Nick Bosa and Richard Sherman were among his current teammates who also sent him congratulatory text messages following Sunday night's big defensive play.
"It's been good," Verrett said. "Those guys that's been around me a little bit last year, and so far all of this year, they just know how hard I've been working to get back out there. Just being around these guys, and just being able to be out there playing on the field, it was tough watching last year, but just being out there has been a fun thing for me."
