SANTA CLARA — Cornerback Perrish Cox’s stock and financial future are booming as he returns Sunday night to Denver, the place where his NFL dream was nearly derailed.
“I’m good, great, couldn’t be better,” Cox said Thursday as he greeted reporters at his 49ers locker.
A positive outlook is what Cox sought when he signed with the 49ers on March 13, 2012. Only 11 days earlier, he had been acquitted of sexual-assault charges stemming from a 2010 incident when he was a Denver Broncos rookie.
“The criticism and all the negative things that came my way, it made me stronger as a whole,” Cox said. “It showed me the people that really have my back.”
Cox should play a key role on the 49ers’ makeshift defense Sunday night against Peyton Manning & Co. With rookie Jimmie Ward battling a quadriceps injury, Cox likely will shift inside to cover Manning’s slot receivers, often Wes Welker or Emmanuel Sanders.
If Cox starts at left cornerback, as he has the past five games in place of an injured Tramaine Brock, that matchup could be with Demaryius Thomas, who testified against Cox in his 2012 jury trial.
Returning to face his ex-Broncos teammates hasn’t flustered Cox, who said: “There’s no mixed feelings or nothing like that. I’ve got to go in and do my job. That’s all I’m worried about.”
Cox already has played once in Denver since his Broncos exodus, in a 2012 exhibition as a reserve.
His 2014 surge has him ranked fourth in ProFootballFocus.com‘s standings for cover cornerbacks, with quarterbacks averaging a 39.4 rating when targeting him. His three interceptions are tied for the league lead, and as a pending free agent, that should enhance his next contract.
Cox started nine games as a rookie for the Broncos before legal issues stalled his career. He spent 2011 out of the NFL once the Broncos released him before the season, and he then trained in his native Waco, Texas. The 49ers say they didn’t sign Cox without considering the move carefully.
“As an organization, from ownership on down, we have done our due diligence and are confident that Perrish will be a positive contributor to the 49ers, as well as our community,” general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement announcing Cox’s signing.
Coach Jim Harbaugh declined to comment Wednesday when a Denver radio reporter asked him on a media conference call why Cox had been signed by the 49ers, citing the cornerback’s sexual-assault case. However, Harbaugh has been complimentary of Cox since he arrived in 2012, referring to him Saturday as “a real great asset for our team, and he’s been doing real well.”
Cox said he’s more comfortable and smarter about football than during his Broncos days. A year ago, however, his stock wasn’t so high. He got released in November, then twice got signed and cut by the Seattle Seahawks before returning to the 49ers for the playoffs.
During his back-and-forth Seahawks stints, Cox became the father to a baby girl, Carter, whom he’s helping raise. “This is what keeps my smile going,” Cox said while showing a reporter a picture of his daughter on his phone.
“We all have trust in Chris Borland, just like we did in training camp and preseason,” Cox said. “He’s got big shoes to fill. We’re going to miss Pat this game, but somebody’s got to step in.”
As much as Gore thrives on being an offensive catalyst, he wasn’t complaining how the 49ers’ pass-oriented attack beat the Rams 31-17 behind Colin Kaepernick’s 343 yards. “I’m happy with that game,” Gore said. “Now we get to see how (the Broncos) play us.”
A stronger passing threat would seem to benefit Gore, who was coming off back-to-back 100-yard rushing games before Monday’s 38-yard effort on 16 carries. Gore isn’t campaigning for a marquee role Sunday, stating: “We all have to play well as a group. Whoever’s number is called, they’ve got to make plays.”
Sunday’s game
49ers (4-2) at Denver (4-1), 5:30 p.m. NBC