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Richard Sherman won’t play in Sunday’s game in New Orleans, but he will still have an impact on the game.
The 49ers opened the training window for the All-Pro cornerback in preparation for their fight with the Saints on Sunday. On Friday, however, coach Kyle Shanahan announced the team will play it safe with Sherman, holding him until Week 12, when the club face the Los Angeles Rams.
In just a few practices, the veteran has already coached Brandon Aiyuk, who is expected to play an important role in the offense after missing Week 9 while on the Reserve / COVID-19 list. The rookie soaks up all the advice Sherman has offered him, knowing it will improve his game.
“I love having Sherm there, just her presence this week,” Aiyuk said. “Just this week, just to be able to face him, he’s just got stuff, vet stuff, tools he’s got in his bag that you can’t see all the time.”
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Aiyuk was able to “pick Sherman’s brain” during practice rehearsals they had together. The two will then watch a movie of their practice in the locker room, knowing that this will only help the rookie on Sunday.
“When you go up against older corners, which have the little tricks they do, I can see it from him in training,” Aiyuk said. “I am able to realize these things because you don’t know what you don’t know.
Sherman will likely give Aiyuk a little flack to call him “older,” but will continue to be a resource for the rookie who was once a field playmaker.
The two spent limited time together as the rookie missed much of training camp and Week 1 with a hamstring injury. Due to current COVID-19 protocols, Sherman has not toured the facility to return from the calf injury he sustained in week 1.
Jason Verrett, who has been a force on the field in Sherman’s absence, noticed the interaction between the veteran cornerback and the rookie receiver.
“After that one-on-one Sherm had against Brandon, he was just giving her advice to work on her outings and try to give different looks,” Verrett said. “That way he doesn’t give the same look every time he does a certain route.”
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Verrett has been impressed with the way Aiyuk has handled his rookie season so far. He enjoys the physical style of play that Aiyuk brings to the field as well as his ambition to be a cornerstone of Shanahan’s offense.
“What stands out from him is that he is not afraid.” Verrett said. “He’s not afraid of challenges, he’s not afraid to learn. He always strives to be that guy, so I think that’s the trait I like about Aiyuk. He’s really trying to try hard to be that number one guy.
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