Kyle Shanahan confirmed last week that the San Francisco 49ers intended to sign veteran cornerback Jason Verrett to their practice squad.

But that move has not yet come to pass, even though it remains an ambition of the Niners.

"That hasn't happened," Shanahan said in his Tuesday's press conference ahead of the Thanksgiving clash with the Seattle Seahawks. "We'd like it to, but not sure yet."

Safety depth the issue?

Verrett was released from the Houston Texans practice squad on November 15, and the hold up in him signing with the 49ers for a second spell with the team could be related to a season-ending injury to All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga.

Rookie Ji'Ayir Brown, who made several huge plays including a game-sealing interception, after replacing Hufanga in Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will start next to veteran Tashaun Gipson. However, the 49ers now only have three safeties on the active roster.

Working on a short week, the 49ers haven't had the opportunity to resolve that shortage as yet, but do have Tayler Hawkins on the practice squad.

"Short week we'll deal with it [the lack of depth] right now," Shanahan said. "But it's something we might have to address as this year goes."

The most straightforward way of addressing it would be to promote Hawkins to the active roster and sign a fifth safety to the one remaining spot on the practice squad.

That would be another piece of misfortune for Verrett, who is one of the NFL's most prominent hard-luck stories.

49ers suddenly well stocked at corner

A first-round pick of the Chargers in 2014, he was a Pro Bowler in 2015 but a succession of devastating injuries prevented him from realizing his sky-high potential.

Signed by the 49ers in 2019, Verrett finally looked to be back on track during the 2020 season, when he played 13 games and finished 17th among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps in passer rating allowed (76.3). He ranked 15th by Pro Football Focus coverage grade and posted seven pass breakups and two interceptions.

He opened the 2021 season as a starter, only to suffer a torn ACL in Week 1. Verrett re-signed with the Niners for 2022 but sustained a torn Achilles before playing a game following his activation from the PUP list.

The 49ers have six cornerbacks on the active roster after rookie Darrell Luter Jr's activation from PUP last week, and recent strong performances from Ambry Thomas have solidified a position group that looked shaky when San Francisco went into the Week 9 bye.

They do not have a cornerback on the practice squad but can activate Samuel Womack III from injured reserve. Womack's 21-day practice window was opened on November 6.

49ers starter returns to practice ahead of Seahawks clash

There was mixed news on the injury front.