Tag: charvarius ward

49ers injury report: Charvarius Ward misses practice with heel issue

The #49ers Thursday practice report didn’t come with much good news:

The 49ers’ Thursday practice report had some not-so-good news on it. Listed as non-participants were safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Charvarius Ward.

Hufanga was limited Wednesday with a knee issue, and Thursday he was listed as out for a personal reason. Ward is dealing with a heel injury.

Here’s the full participation report for Thursday:

Charvarius Ward praises 49ers rookie DB, expects big things in preseason

The #49ers veteran corner is expecting big things from rookie Ji’Ayir Brown in the preseason.

With training camp heating up, the San Francisco 49ers’ first preseason game is approaching.

Although he has yet to have the chance to officially suit up and make his debut, Charvarius Ward already has lofty expectations for one rookie when the 49ers take the field in the preseason.

After practice at training camp on Thursday, the veteran corner praised rookie Ji’Ayir Brown. Ward told reporters he believes Brown will be “smacking people around” in the preseason.

I think he’s (Brown) a grown man. Like, you look at him, and he looks like he’s been in the league already for a couple of years. I definitely think in the preseason, when the pads come on, he is going to smacking people around. His game is really going to show real good.

In practice, he might not making a lot of plays right now, but I know on gameday – Sunday, whoever we play, he is going to be a dog. He’s a dog, for sure.

His body type, his mentality, like you look at him, and he kind of looks mad. But he’s a happy person. On the field, he’s aggressive and he plays hard. That’s what I get from him; he plays hard, and he plays fast.

Via @NBCS49ers on Twitter:

The 49ers drafted Brown in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft out of Penn State. At Penn State, Brown earned All-Big Ten third-team honors twice. In 2023 Brown was named the defensive Most Valuable Player of the Rose Bowl. Against the Utah Utes in the Rose Bowl, Brown had a game-high eight tackles and an interception.

In 13 games in 2022, Brown had 56 tackles, seven for loss, along with a team-high four interceptions. In 2021, Brown had a career-high six interceptions.

Brown will get the chance to make his debut with the Niners in the preseason on Sunday, August 13, against the Las Vegas Raiders in Sin City.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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49ers CB Charvarius Ward has All-Pro aspirations for 2023 season

After a solid first season with the #49ers, Charvarius Ward is eyeing an All-Pro campaign in 2023.

In his first season in the Bay Area, Charvarius Ward proved to be one of the San Francisco 49ers’ most impactful free-agent signings last year. On a star-studded defense with Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and Talanoa Hufanga, Ward shined in the secondary. 

In his first year with the Niners, Ward received an 81.0 defensive grade (the highest PFF grade of his career) from Pro Football Focus, the sixth-highest grade for a cornerback.  

On 77 targets, Ward allowed an 88.0 passer rating during the 2022 season. Ward had nine pass breakups and one interception while only allowing three touchdowns all season long. 

Coming off a solid first season with the 49ers, Ward is eyeing an All-Pro campaign in 2023. 

Via @NBCS49ers on Twitter: 

The 27-year-old defender will have the chance to take another step forward under new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. The longtime defensive coach has specialized in defensive backs throughout his career.

Wilks has coached the secondary or defensive backs at multiple stops, including with the Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears. Last season, Wilks coached young corner Jaycee Horn to a breakout campaign. 

On Thursday, Ward spoke about working with Coach Wilks. 

Via NBC Sports 49ers:

Coach Wilks an OG. He’s real smart. He’s got a lot of knowledge in the game. I like his scheme. He’s kind of adding his own wrinkle to things. It’s still mainly the same defense. I feel like he’s got a lot of knowledge among the DBs. I get a lot of one-on-one work with him. Hopefully, he will take me to the next level and all the other DBs as well.  

With the help of Wilks and another season behind San Francisco’s vaunted front seven, All-Pro aspirations for Ward should be on the table. 

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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3 new absences for 49ers on Day 3 of training camp

There were 3 new absences from Day 3 of #49ers training camp.

There were three new absences for the 49ers on Friday when they took the field for their third day of camp. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, linebacker Oren Burks and defensive end Austin Bryant were all out of practice according to Matt Barrows of the Athletic.

No reason for the absences was given, although it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the team is either giving rest days or taking extra precautions with potential injuries this early in camp.

With a day off Saturday, we’ll have to wait until Sunday to see if there are any additional updates.

Barrows also noted left tackle Trent Williams didn’t take part in individual drills, but held down the LT spot during the 11-on-11 portion. The team was very cautious with Williams last year, so it would make sense if they did the same with the 35-year-old again this year.

That trio was out along with defensive end Nick Bosa and cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. Bosa is still working on a long-term contract extension. Luter is working his way back from a bone bruise he sustained late in OTAs.

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Is Dre Greenlaw the 49ers most underrated player?

Is Dre Greenlaw the 49ers’ most underrated player?

The 49ers have a lot of very good players. Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle are all headliners who get plenty of praise as reasons San Francisco has been in Super Bowl contention despite their woes at quarterback.

While the high praise is well-earned for those stars, it leaves a slew of other important players flying under the radar. Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar wrote a piece highlighting every team’s most underrated player, and listed linebacker Dre Greenlaw for the 49ers.

Here’s Farrar on Greenlaw:

Last year, Greenlaw had a career-best season with a sack, six quarterback pressures, 125 solo tackles, 71 stops, and 87 catches allowed on 111 targets for 708 yards, 453 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, one interception, six pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 95.5. Basically, Greenlaw was close to the action at all times, and he was up to any challenge.

This is probably the correct choice. Greenlaw is so often overshadowed by fellow LB Fred Warner, who is atop the conversation for best off-ball linebacker in the NFL. In reality Greenlaw would be the best LB on perhaps half the teams in the league. Maybe more. He should get more shine as a reason the 49ers’ defense is as good as it is.

There are a handful of other players who fit here for the 49ers as well. Let’s look at that group:

Charvarius Ward adds 3 void years to contract with restructure

Charvarius Ward’s contract restructure got the #49ers back under the cap.

The 49ers on Tuesday restructured the contract of cornerback Charvarius Ward per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.

Ward’s original deal signed last offseason was a three-year contract worth $40.5 million. With the restructure, the 49ers converted nearly $12.5 million of his base salary into a signing bonus, which lowers his cap hit in 2023 and spreads it out over the remainder of the deal.

Since Ward’s deal only ran through the 2024 season, the 49ers tacked on three ‘void’ years. Ward won’t be under contract during those void years, but the team will still be charged for the amount of signing bonus spread into those years.

Per Over the Cap, his prorated bonus in the first two void years (2024 and 2025) is $4,901,000. In 2026 he’ll cost the 49ers $2,496,000 against the cap.

San Francisco was over the 2023 salary cap prior to restructuring Ward. Redoing his deal will cost them some money down the road, but it got them back under the cap by clearing about $10 million in space this year.

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49ers inactives: CB Charvarius Ward will play vs. Commanders

CB Charvarius Ward, RB Jordan Mason will play for the 49ers vs. the Commanders. Here’s the list of inactives;

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The 49ers will have their top cornerback Charvarius Ward against the Commanders on Saturday. Ward was officially listed as questionable on the injury report because he hadn’t fully cleared concussion protocol. He was cleared in time for the game though and not listed among the team’s inactives.

Here’s who won’t play for San Francisco:

QB Jimmy Garoppolo (foot)
WR Deebo Samuel (knee, ankle)
DT Kevin Givens (knee)
DE Kerry Hyder (knee)
DE Drake Jackson
OL Nick Zakelj
TE Ross Dwelley

Jackson is a healthy scratch for the first time this season – an interesting decision with the rookie second-round pick. He’s put together a decent year with plenty of splash plays, but the club may require more depth on the interior against a run-heavy Washington offense and Jackson is the most expendable DE for now.

Running back Jordan Mason was also questionable going into the game with a hamstring injury. He’s not listed and will play, presumably in the “closer” role he’s taken on the last couple weeks in the backfield.

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Charvarius Ward underlining his importance as 49ers prepare for postseason run

Charvarius Ward’s importance to the 49ers has shined through as the playoffs draw closer. From Nicholas McGee (@nicholasmcgee24):

The 49ers possess the best defense in the NFL. At this point in the 2022 season, you would fine few people who would dispute that statement and, encouragingly for San Francisco, DeMeco Ryans’ unit is displaying continued evidence of key growth in the secondary as the Niners look towards the postseason. 

San Francisco clinched its place in the postseason last Thursday, securing the NFC West title for the first time since the 2019 campaign with a 21-13 road victory over the Seattle Seahawks that saw the Niners sweep Seattle for the first time since 2011.

That victory came on the back of yet another composed performance from rookie quarterback Brock Purdy and more defensive dominance from Ryans’ group, which had no problem shackling Geno Smith and the Seattle offense until late in the fourth quarter, when the Seahawks finally scored their first offensive touchdown against the 49ers of the 2022 season.

San Francisco dictated terms on the defensive side of the ball not just because of its superiority in the trenches, where Nick Bosa produced near constant pressure off the edge, but because of excellent play in the secondary.

Though the Niners have suffered injuries at cornerback, most notably to Emmanuel Moseley, who sustained a season-ending injury in Week 6, they have not seen an evident drop-off in performances at the position.

Indeed, they remain one of the premier zone coverage teams in the NFL and, as the 49ers have shut down opposing offenses in recent weeks, they have seen their cornerbacks excel in playing physical man coverage.

San Francisco’s wins over the Buccaneers and the Seahawks have served as an illustration of why they invested in corner Charvarius Ward in free agency, the former Chief providing hugely impressive physical coverage against the likes of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and DK Metcalf.

Ward has allowed just 6.7 yards per target in 2022, tied for the best mark of his career after allowing the same average in his final season with Kansas City last year, and was outstanding in locking down Metcalf despite the Seattle wideout’s clear size advantage.

That display followed a game against the Bucs in which he, Deommodore Lenoir and Jimmie Ward, shifted from safety to slot corner because of the injuries the 49ers have suffered at the latter position, successfully deployed a physical approach in holding Evans and Godwin in check.

The Niners, specifically in the Tampa Bay game, have straddled the line between legal pass defense and illegal contact penalties, but their ability to succeed playing that brand of coverage bodes well for their upcoming postseason campaign.

It appears near certain the 49ers will need to go through the Philadelphia Eagles to secure a place in Super Bowl LVII, meaning San Francisco will likely face one of the most talented receiver duos in the NFL in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith as well as one of the NFL’s better tight ends In Dallas Goedert.

The ability to get hands on Brown, another of the NFL’s more physically imposing wideouts, and Smith and Goedert to disrupt their timing with Jalen Hurts will be critical to any hopes of knocking off the Eagles.

On top of that, having the flexibility to rotate between man and zone allows Ryans to mix up his looks and keep quarterbacks guessing and gives him the freedom to leave outside defenders on an island and commit more resources to defending the threat of the run, which will obviously be prevalent should the 49ers face Philadelphia in the postseason.

NFL defenses cannot live in man coverage, but being able to play it successfully is key for teams hoping to go far in the playoffs.

Charvarius Ward provides the 49ers a starting corner who allows them to do that and one who is completely bought in to the aggressive style of play that defines the 49er defense against both the pass and the run. The 49ers’ big-ticket free agency signing was not one that dominated offseason headlines but, if the Niners’ season does end with confetti falling on them, that astute acquisition will be a significant reason why.

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49ers practice report: Brock Purdy, Charvarius Ward limited to begin Week 16

The 49ers’ first practice participation report for Week 16 is out:

The 49ers opened their Week 16 practices with very few surprises on the participation report.

A handful of players who’d been out in Week 15 were back in at least a limited fashion. Defensive linemen Javon Kinlaw and Kalia Davis did have their practice windows opened, but neither showed up on the practice report because players who aren’t activated yet off injured lists aren’t required to be listed.

Here’s the full Tuesday participation report:

49ers injury updates: CB Charvarius Ward in concussion protocol

49ers CB Charvarius Ward is in concussion protocol. Kyle Shanahan made the right call not re-inserting Ward into the game Thursday after Ward was cleared to return.

Kyle Shanahan’s decision not to put cornerback Charvarius Ward back in Thursday night’s game turned out to be the right one. Ward was evaluated for a concussion and cleared to return to the field, but Shanahan didn’t feel right putting the CB back in. On Friday Shanahan told reporters Ward was diagnosed with a concussion after the game and is in concussion protocol.

That was one of a handful of injury updates from Thursday’s game in Seattle. Shanahan also said wide receiver Danny Gray (hamstring) and cornerback Ambry Thomas (ankle) are day-to-day after leaving the game early.

Shanahan’s decision to not put Ward back in the game could’ve saved him from a more severe injury. Ward will be in concussion protocol which means he’s unable to practice or play until he’s cleared. There’s no set recovery time on head injuries, but with no game until December 24, Ward will have more than a week to get through the steps required to return to action.

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