SPORTS

Manning, Woodson among Hall candidates

The Associated Press
Peyton Manning, who is among 14 first-year eligible candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after helping the Broncos to victory in Super Bowl 50.

Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson are among 14 first-year eligible candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Joining the two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback and the star cornerback/safety on the ballot are receivers Calvin Johnson, Wes Welker and Roddy White; running back Steven Jackson; tight end Heath Miller; offensive linemen D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Logan Mankins; defensive linemen Jared Allen, Justin Tuck and Kevin Williams; linebacker Jerod Mayo; and defensive back Charles Tillman.

In all, there are 130 nominees for five modern-era spots. The roster of nominees consists of 65 offensive players, 49 defensive players and 16 special teams players. The list will be reduced to 25 semifinalists in November and to 15 finalists in January. A maximum of five modern-era players will be chosen when the selection committee meets the Saturday before the Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida.

Eighteen finalists will be presented to the full 48-member panel: the 15 modern-era finalists, and the recently nominated Drew Pearson (senior); Bill Nunn (contributor); and Tom Flores (coach).

Enshrinement at the hall in Canton, Ohio, will take place next August, when members of the 2020 class and a special centennial class also will enter the football shrine. The 2020 class could not be enshrined due to the coronavirus pandemic and will be honored next summer.

That class has players Steve Atwater, Isaac Bruce, Harold Carmichael, Jimbo Covert, Bobby Dillon, Cliff Harris, Winston Hill, Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James, Alex Karras, Troy Polamalu, Donnie Shell, Duke Slater, Mac Speedie and Ed Sprinkle; coaches Bill Cowher and Jimmy Johnson; and contributors Steve Sabol, Paul Tagliabue and George Young.

Returning finalists from last year are receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne; offensive linemen Tony Boselli and Alan Faneca; defensive linemen Richard Seymour and Bryant Young; linebackers Sam Mills and Zach Thomas; and defensive backs John Lynch and LeRoy Butler.

Sherman on IR

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman will miss at least the next three games after injuring his calf in the season opener.

A person familiar with the injury said Wednesday that Sherman will be placed on injured reserve and won’t be eligible to return until after missing the next three weeks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t made an announcement.

NFL Network first reported the injury.

Sherman is the latest key player on the defending NFC champions to be hampered by an injury so far this season. San Francisco played the season opener without two of its top receivers in Deebo Samuel (foot) and Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring), as well as its top two centers in Weston Richburg (knee) and Ben Garland (ankle).

Sherman has been one of the league’s top cover cornerbacks for the past decade. He was a second-team All-Pro last season when he locked down the defensive left side of the league’s top pass defense.

He fared better than anyone else on San Francisco’s defense in Week 1 against DeAndre Hopkins, limiting him to three catches for 22 yards on 15 pass plays. Hopkins had 14 catches for 151 yards overall in Arizona’s 24-20 win.

The 49ers head into Sunday’s game against the New York Jets with Emmanuel Moseley and Ahkello Witherspoon as the top two outside cornerbacks. Jason Verrett could also be an option if he has recovered from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the opener.

San Francisco also could be without All-Pro tight end George Kittle (sprained knee) and backup receiver and returner Richie James Jr. (hamstring).

The 49ers are adding another cornerback this week by agreeing to a deal with Brian Allen, according to his agent Steve Caric. Allen was a fifth-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2017 and played exclusively on special teams during his two seasons with the Steelers.

He also spent time with Seattle and Buffalo without playing in a game and now will join the 49ers.

The Niners agreed to a deal with receiver Mohamed Sanu on Tuesday for more depth at that spot.