Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Richard Sherman has a knack for playing through pain. During training camp, he revealed to reporters that he played all of last season with sutures in his heel, a source of constant pain following his recovery from a torn Achilles. He sprained his knee against the Baltimore Ravens and returned to the game, and did not miss a single practice the following week leading up to Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.
But in the fourth quarter, Sherman pulled himself after injuring his hamstring. Drew Brees, in the confusion of the quick switch at corner, took advantage of a defensive lapse by the 49ers and completed the easiest pass he’ll ever throw to Ted Ginn Jr. before capping off the would-be game-winning drive with his fifth touchdown of the day, to Michael Thomas. The 49ers, of course, won on a game-winning Robbie Gould field goal (and George Kittle rumble down the sidelines) on the ensuing drive.
Sherman said after the game the pain was serious and he felt he could not be out on the field in his condition.
“I definitely couldn’t go back in this one,” Sherman said. “I would have been a liability out there.”
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Sherman injury is a fairly significant grade two hamstring strain, though doesn’t threaten to end his season. Sherman’s status is reportedly in doubt for this week, though, if he’s going to miss any of the remaining weeks in the season, it would seem beneficial timing against the 4-9 Atlanta Falcons this week, the clear easiest matchup left on the schedule.
Richard Sherman's MRI showed a Grade 2 hamstring strain, per source. So definitely tough for this week and perhaps beyond, though we've seen Sherman play through plenty of things before. https://t.co/MGWSll55o2
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 9, 2019
