© Kyle Terada | 2019 Aug 10
Two new 49ers won’t be seeing the field for quite awhile.
Rookie wide receiver Jalen Hurd and veteran cornerback Jason Verrett have been placed on the injured reserve, the team announced on Thursday. Both players will be inactive for at least eight weeks, meaning both are out through Week 12.
As replacements, the team is re-signing former 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson and wide receiver Jordan Matthews who was cut by the team at the end of the preseason, according to Mike Garafolo.
The #49ers are planning to re-sign veteran WR Jordan Matthews, league sources say. Matthews is expected to take Jalen Hurd’s roster spot, as the rookie receiver is headed to IR. Sounds like the Niners want to give Hurd’s back fracture time to heal.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 3, 2019
The 49ers selected Hurd, considered a threat in both the receiving and running game, with the 67th overall pick in this year’s draft. He has yet to play this season while dealing with a back issue.
Verrett, 28, is a former first-round pick who has struggled mightily with injuries throughout his career. He was in the running to replace the injured Ahkello Witherspoon for the next few weeks. Verrett did not look 100 percent in a brief cameo in Week 3, getting benched after allowing a deep touchdown on his second play. Verrett, who has been dealing with ankle issues since camp began, also tweaked his knee during the game.
Here’s the team’s official statement:
The San Francisco 49ers announced on Thursday they have placed WR Jalen Hurd and CB Jason Verrett on the Injured Reserve List and signed CB Dontae Johnson to a one-year deal. The team also re-signed OL Will Holden to the team’s practice squad.
Hurd (6-4, 230) was inactive in each of the team’s first three games this season and Verrett (5-10, 188) appeared in one game and was inactive for the other two.
Johnson (6-2, 200), originally entered the NFL as the second of two fourth-round draft picks (129th overall) by the 49ers in the 2014 NFL Draft. In four years with San Francisco (2014-17), he appeared in 63 games (22 starts) and registered 149 tackles, 21 passes defensed and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. In 2018, he spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals, but did not see game action. He later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on February 26, 2019 and was released by the team on May 20. He re-signed with the 49ers on May 28 and was released on August 30. Following his time with the 49ers, he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on September 11 and was released on September 28.
A 27-year-old native of Pennington, NJ, Johnson attended North Carolina State University. In 50 games (28 starts) over four seasons with the Wolfpack, he finished with 217 tackles, 10 passes defensed, 4.0 sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. As a senior in 2013, he started all 12 games and registered 82 tackles, a team-high three interceptions, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Johnson will wear number 38.
Holden (6-7, 312) originally signed to the team’s practice squad on September 17 and was released on October 1.