SANTA CLARA — In the locker next to Nick Bosa were the gold helmet and upside-down shoulder pads of No. 22, waiting for cornerback Jason Verrett to put them on for his first 49ers practice in 13 months.

“I’m just excited to be back. Missed all the guys,” Verrett said Wednesday. “I’m just ready to help them get on this run.”

Verrett officially returned earlier this week to the practice squad, where he will get his injury-battered, 32-year-old body into game shape. His most immediate impact will be mentoring an up-and-coming cornerback corps, not too dissimilar to what he has done since originally joining the 49ers in 2019.

Just don’t expect the NFC-leading 49ers (10-3) to rush him into the lineup, even with starter Charvarius Ward (groin) likely sidelined Sunday when they visit the last-place Arizona Cardinals (3-10).

Verrett tore his left Achilles tendon on Nov. 9, 2022, just as he was on the verge of returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the 2021 opener at Detroit. The onetime Santa Rosa Junior College player’s first five NFL seasons with the Chargers also were spoiled by injuries: left shoulder (2014), left ACL (2016), knee (2017) and right Achilles (2018).

“I told him yesterday he’s an inspiration to us all, and to just keep grinding and the mental aspect you have to take into account when you go through that many traumatic injuries and recoveries,” Bosa said. “He’s definitely a special guy.”

Not many players go through as many injuries — or jersey numbers: No. 27 in 2019, No. 22 in ’20, No. 2 in ’21, No. 22 now. While his shoulder pads weren’t needed for a lighter practice Wednesday, Verrett moved around well and made a concerted effort to interact with fellow defensive backs, including some one-on-one drills with Lenoir during warm-ups.

“We’ve got our big brother back,” Lenoir said. “Coming in as a rookie (in 2021), he always had me and Ambry (Thomas) under his wing, teaching us the defense. For him to come back and see us progress, that’s the best feeling.”

Of the 15 games Verrett has played with the 49ers, 13 came during the COVID-impacted 2020 season, one came in a four-snap cameo in 2019, and the most recent was his 2021 ACL tear that had him (and his teammates) in tears as he limped to the locker room during that victory in Detroit.

Verrett lauded how “tremendous” Lenoir and Ward are playing, adding: “I’m glad I can be here to mentor them and help elevate their game even more.”

Lenoir and Ward each have just two interceptions this season. Ward leads the NFL with 20 passes defensed, but a groin injury sent him out after four snaps of Sunday’s 28-16 win over Seattle. Lenoir exited early, too, for throwing a punch in defense of teammate Fred Warner — a move that prompted Lenoir to send an apologetic text to coach Kyle Shanahan, who reiterated Wednesday that the 49ers may be physical but they must not cross that fine line to throw a punch.

Lenoir’s attention now turns to learning more from Verrett, a beloved player in the locker room as he has signed one-year contracts each year since 2019.

“We respect and love him so much,” Warner said. “The fact that he’s still going is unbelievable and is an inspiration to me and the rest of his teammates, and he’s just a great leader to have in the locker room.”

When several players stayed after practice last month to watch Verrett audition, he said that showed what he meant to them, and vice versa.

As for Verrett spending last month on the Houston Texans’ practice squad before requesting his release, he said: “It was just a way I could get reps. My heart was always wanting to be here. Fast forward, I’m just glad it worked out.”

“I’ve known JV for a while and know how good of a player he can be,” Deebo Samuel said. “The stuff he’s been through, and for him to come back and just give it another try, that’s God’s blessing.”