SANTA CLARA — Jason Verrett can suit up today in a 49ers jersey for the first time since the 2021 season opener and only the 16th time since originally joining them in 2019.
Verrett, two weeks after re-joining the 49ers, was elevated from the practice squad a few hours before kickoff against the Baltimore Ravens at Levi’s Stadium.
Other roster moves saw the 49ers (11-3) promote wide receiver Willie Snead IV to the 53-man roster, waive offensive tackle Matt Pryor, and activate defensive tackle T.Y. McGill off the practice squad for a second straight game.
Two days ago, Verrett earned scout-team player of the week honors for his defensive efforts, but he refrained from wearing the camoflouge practice jersey that signifies that honor. Instead, he’ll don a No. 22 Niners’ jersey, assuming he is not among the players deactivated 90 minutes before the 5:15 p.m. kickoff.
Verrett’s elevation — practice-squad players are allowed to come up three such times — should not come as a total surprise considering how he and his coaches foreshadowed that move last week. Verrett, at his locker Saturday, indicated that his oft-injured body was moving well after two solid weeks of practice. He said he had an interception or two while also knocking down several passes in practice.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Saturday of Verrett: “He’s been looking good. He’s had two good weeks here and pumped to have him in our building.”
How much will they have Verrett on the field and exactly where? Verrett indicated Saturday he was unsure of his potential workload, that it could be as minimal as five to 10 snaps. He’s been strictly an outside cornerback since breaking into the NFL in 2013 with the then-San Diego Chargers, but his veteran savvy could see him line up at nickel back, if needed. Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir figure to remain the starting cornerbacks, but when Lenoir bumps inside as a nickel back to combat multi-receiver sets, perhaps Verrett enters as the Nos. 3 or 4 cornerback with Ambry Thomas.
Verrett, 32, has played only 20 games since making the Pro Bowl in his second season with the Chargers, who drafted the Fairfield native in the first round of the 2013 draft. Leg injuries have derailed his career, most recently with an anterior cruciate ligament tear in the 2021 opener at Detroit and a ruptured Achilles last November as he neared a comeback.
As for Snead, he steps into at least a wide receiver corps that won’t have Jauan Jennings, who is out with a concussion. Snead played from 2018-20 with the Ravens. He conceivably could also serve as a return specialist, a role that’s been inauspiciously handled the past two games by rookie Ronnie Bell.
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McGill is up a second straight game to help cover for the absence of defensive tackle Arik Armstead. Javon Hargrave was listed Saturday as questionable after a hamstring injury kept him out of the 49ers’ last game, a win in Arizona.
Armstead (foot, knee) was ruled out Saturday, along with Jennings, linebacker Oren Burks (knee) and tight end Ross Dwelley (ankle).
The Ravens elevated linebacker Jeremaiah moon and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell from their practice squad.
