Earlier this month, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman passed the one-year mark since suffering the devastating Achilles tendon injury that ended his 2017 season early.

Much has changed for Sherman in that year: The Seattle Seahawks released him, the 49ers signed him, he recovered from the Achilles injury, he had a couple of minor injury setbacks and he’s managed to fight through others. He’s also hit a variety of benchmarks in his return from injury,cheap nfl nike jerseys free shipping but validation of a return to form might have come in its biggest dose when Sherman was able to play well during a Week 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals, then turn around and play four days later against the Oakland Raiders.

“It was really meaningful for me,” Sherman said. “I wanted to do it for the team. Obviously, I’m a competitor, I want to play every game if I can and thankfully the trainers and doctors and everything were able to help me get to where I needed to get to play, so I was excited about it.”

Given some time to rest after that victory against the Raiders, the 30-year-old Sherman said his legs “felt as good as they’ve ever felt,” and coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh noticed an uptick in his practice performance to go along with it.

“I’m sure it was a great confidence boost for him, too,” Saleh said. “Even as much as he’s done in his career, he could always use a confidence booster. But, for Sherm to be able to stack days up and be able to practice and play games consecutively like that, I’m sure it was a big deal for him.”

On Sunday, Sherman will return to Seattle for the first time in a different uniform, that of his former adversary Niners, no less. As he makes that return, he does so as a team captain for the first time in his career and an integral part in a 49ers defense that is going through more than its share of growing pains.

Sherman, by his own account, has experienced his share of highs and lows this season.cheap nfl jerseys from china nike

“It’s been so-so,” Sherman said. “It’s been ups and downs. I’ve had good games where I’ve felt good and been in real control and then other games where I’ve had to just kind of get through it. So as my leg and body progresses, I think I’m going to be feeling better.”