San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman won't play in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons, but he expects to be back Week 16 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Sherman is dealing with a hamstring injury, and many believed he would be out a while. He has different ideas, and he goes as far as to say he would play on Sunday if Kyle Shanahan and the medical staff would let him.

“I could play in this game if we had to have it,” Sherman said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “Kyle and them are more cautious than I am. . . . I told them I just needed a couple of days. I needed a couple of days and I feel great today already. [I ran] 19 miles per hour, 20 miles per hour today. That’s really all you need to play.”'

Sherman suffered a grade two hamstring injury against the New Orleans Saints, and as much as he is itching to get back on the field, the 49ers need to be careful with the injury.

Hamstrings can be tricky, and one minor tweak can set back a player a couple of weeks or a couple of months. The 49ers are going to be in the playoffs. Sherman must be ready to go for them then. Even if the 49ers shut him down until the playoffs to make sure that he is 100 percent prepared to go, that might be best.

If it's up to Sherman, he is going to be on the field next Sunday against the Rams.