NFC West Notes: 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

49ers

When healthy, 49ers CB Jason Verrett is a Pro Bowl-caliber player, though being healthy has been a rarity for Verrett. While he missed Week 1 while recovering from an ankle injury, Verrett was healthy this past Sunday when the 49ers made the decision to deactivate him against the Bengals. 

“Yeah, it’s very difficult when it’s like that,” Verrett said, via NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco. “But at the same time, I’m a pro. I take it for what it is, and control what I can control and just try to move forward with it.”

The 49ers say they’re taking it slow with Verrett and never planned to play him in the first two games of the season. In the meantime, the roster math for Verrett has been complicated by the strong play of outside corners Richard Sherman and Ahkello Witherspoon, as well as the fact Verrett isn’t a contributor on special teams. 

“I know he really wanted to get out there last week, but we tried to play it smart with him,” 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said. “He has a better chance to get out there this week. That’s something we will discuss. It doesn’t all have to do with him. It’ll have to do with the rest of the roster, and how we plan on attacking these guys.”

• When asked if he would ask for a trade if he continues to be a healthy scratch, Verrett responded, “We’ll see what happens.”
• The 49ers tried out OL Brandon Hitner on Thursday. (Aaron Wilson)

Rams

• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports Rams DT Aaron Donald picked up a minor back injury in Sunday’s game against the Saints, which is actually a continuation of something he dealt with in training camp. 
• Rapoport says the injury is seen as something that’s more “irritating” rather than painful and shouldn’t hold Donald back too much going forward. 

Seahawks

Seahawks HC Pete Carroll has had an affinity for big wide receivers dating all the way back to his first years as the head coach at USC with Mike Williams catching passes. That’s why Carroll made trading up to the second round to select WR D.K. Metcalf, who has seven catches for 150 yards and a touchdown through his first two games, a priority. 

“Because we realize that they have an advantage,” Carroll said via ESPN’s Brady Henderson. “And the advantage kind of goes to the quarterback in the sense that when he sees big guys, they look open whether there’s guys standing right next to them or not. And you can throw the ball right to guys whether there’s guys right hip-to-hip on them and you can find space to throw the football.”

Carroll said the team is “thrilled” about Metcalf’s progress as a rookie. 

“What a great start he’s off to and we’re thrilled about it,” Carroll said via Curtis Crabtree. “I think Russ went to him seven times today and we didn’t get them all, but there’s going to be a lot of hookups here coming up.”