SANTA CLARA – Cornerback Richard Sherman’s work load increased on his second day back on the 49ers’ practice field after sitting out eight days with a hamstring strain.
Sherman was limited to individual drills on Sunday, but he saw more action on Monday, including participating in an 11-on-11 session in the red zone. The 49ers had a lighter day of work, practicing in shells and helmets in their last day of work before traveling to Houston.
The 49ers will practice Wednesday and Thursday against the Houston Texans before a day off. On Saturday, the teams meet in the second exhibition game for both clubs.
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Coach Kyle Shanahan said there would be conversations with Sherman and the team medical staff before determining his plan for the week.
“He knows his body pretty well,” Shanahan said. “We’re trying to ease him in. He wanted to get a few reps today in team and stuff where we kind of had an idea what plays they were and stuff. You could just mirror his feet and get a little bit of competition. We’re still taking it very slowly with him. We’ll reassess that and how we feel when we go against another team.”
Sherman made a leaping break-up of a Jimmy Garoppolo pass intended for wide receiver Kendrick Bourne in the front right corner of the end zone during a red-zone drill.
Participation Report
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Injuries kept 11 players out of practice on Monday, while six other players were “limited” and another, guard Mike Person, had a recovery day to rest up.
Here’s the list of players who did not practice: running backs Jerick McKinnon (calf) and Matt Breida (shoulder), wide receiver Max McCaffrey (foot), tight end George Kittle (shoulder), offensive lineman Garry Gilliam (concussion), defensive linemen Arik Amstead (hamstring) and Solomon Thomas (concussion), linebackers Malcolm Smith (hamstring), Eli Harold (knee) and Jeremiah Attaochu (groin), and cornerback K’Waun Williams (ankle).
Sherman, guard Joshua Garnett (knee), linebackers Fred Warner (chest) and Brock Coyle (hip), tight end Cole Wick (knee) and offensive lineman JP Flynn (knee) were limited.
Transaction
The 49ers plan to sign veteran running back Alfred Morris, pending a physical, after the club arrives in Houston for two days of practices and an exhibition game. The 49ers have a shortage of running backs with McKinnon and Breida out for the remainder of the preseason. Morris (5 foot 10, 222 pounds) will have an opportunity to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster, Shanahan said. Morris, 29, a six-year NFL veteran, played his first two NFL seasons with Shanahan as his offensive coordinator with Washington. He rushed for a career-high 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rookie. In his second season, Morris gained 1,275 yards rushing with seven touchdowns.
This ‘n’ That
Running back Joe Williams, who was excused from practice the past two days to attend the funeral of a family member, will rejoin the team in Houston. . . Erik Magnuson worked with the first-team offense at right guard with Person on the sideline. Jonathan Cooper got practice time with the second team. Garnett saw limited time with the third unit. The 49ers cut back the number of third-team reps due to the team’s injury situation. . . Tight end Cole Hikutini made a leaping 10-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone against the coverage of free safety Adrian Colbert. . . Colbert later broke up an 8-yard pass intended for Dante Pettis in the front of the end zone. . . Linebacker Korey Toomer intercepted a Nick Mullens pass. . . Garoppolo hit tight end Garrett Celek with a 33-yard pass against Cassius Marsh, who dropped into coverage. As the ball was in flight, teammates began yelling, “Celek Time!” long before it dropped into his hands. . . Mullens hit Aaron Burbridge with a 40-yard pass over rookie cornerback Tarvarus McFadden on the final play of practice.
