Richard Sherman: I don’t have a relationship with Russell Wilson

Richard Sherman is heading back to Seattle for the first time since being cut by the Seahawks, and in true Richard Sherman fashion, he had some things to say.

The 49ers cornerback, known for being brash and talkative, said he was looking forward to seeing some of his old teammates, though quarterback Russell Wilson isn’t among them.

“I don’t really have a relationship with Russell,” he told ESPN.com. “We were teammates. We played through a very special time for the franchise.”

That should come as no surprise after a summer report from Sports Illustrated characterized Wilson as not having much of a relationship with any of his teammates, with many believing he was the recipient of special treatment from the coaching staff. It was a concern born out of the last-minute Super Bowl XXIX loss to the Patriots in 2017 and led to the rapid dismantling of the Seahawks’ vaunted defense.

Despite Sherman’s unceremonious exit from Seattle, during which he was recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, he’s well aware of what Wilson brings to the table – good and bad. On the one hand, he’s an electric presence, capable of big-time plays with his arm as well as his feet. On the other hand, though…

“I’ve also seen him throw five picks in the game, so you see what he’s capable of on both sides of it,” Sherman said. “You understand that he can be defended, so you go out there and give it your best shot.”

For his part, Wilson was cordial when asked about his former teammate.

“He’s going to be a Hall-of-Fame corner,” Wilson said. “He’s a guy that meant so much to our football team when he was here. Just how many plays he made. … He was always able to teach the younger guys as well.

“And so, to be able to go up against him in practice every day helped my career and just helped my understanding of the game and just confidence in everything else going against one of the best corners. … So I’m grateful for that.”

The 6-5 Seahawks play host to the 2-9 49ers on Sunday, with Seattle chasing a playoff spot in the NFC.