Jimmie Ward re-signing with the 49ers barely moved the needle in the offseason. The former first-round pick played just one full season in his first five years in San Francisco, and ended four of those years on injured reserve. Then he broke his collarbone in offseason workouts. Then he broke his finger shortly after returning from the collarbone injury. Meanwhile, second-year defensive back Tarvarius Moore was taking over the starting free safety job, and it looked like Ward’s sixth season in San Francisco wouldn’t get off the ground. Now that he’s healthy though, Ward has asserted himself as one of the 49ers’ best defensive players, and showing why the team was confident enough in him to bring him back after all his injury problems.
Ward was excellent in his first start against the Browns. He made a couple of very good tackles, including one in the open field against running back Nick Chubb that prevented a touchdown.
He was even better Sunday in the team’s 20-7 win over the Rams. Ward was so good, in fact, that head coach Kyle Shanahan proclaimed after the game that he’d wear Ward’s jersey if he could.
“We love Jimmie,” Shanahan told reporters per Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee. “I’d wear his jersey on the sideline if I could. I love his mentality. I love watching him play. He’s had some unfortunate things, not being able to stay healthy. But when he is healthy, he’s one of the better players.”
Ward being one of the team’s better players isn’t a new sentiment among the coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh called Ward one of their best 11 defensive players before inserting him into the starting lineup against Cleveland.
It was a gamble to bring the oft-injured safety back, especially with all the talent available at the position in free agency and the draft. Ward signed a one-year deal with the 49ers, but if he stays healthy keeps playing at this level, he’ll earn a more substantial offer this offseason. Maybe then his coach will rock his No. 20 jersey.
