Jimmie Ward is still working his way back onto the practice field. The 49ers activated the defensive back, who is playing safety this season, from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list on July 30.
Other players, like safety Tarvarius Moore, are taking advantage of the added reps. In fact, the second-year defensive back has been working a lot with the first-team defense.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh isn't quick to overpraise anyone and made it clear last week and over the weekend that Moore would not be an exception.
It's not that Saleh doesn't believe in Moore's talent, just that the second-year player, in his opinion, is not yet a starting-caliber safety.
"He's getting better," Saleh said. "Tarvarius does not lack athleticism, does not lack instincts. He does not lack burst or anything like that. That's not his problem. He's not a dumb guy. He's actually really smart. And so, for Tarvarius, he's only been playing the position for a couple weeks, if you think about it, here for our team. He's been a corner."
Moore is transitioning from cornerback, the position he played last year as a rookie, to safety, the position he flourished at in college. Some feel perhaps last year was a wasted season in Moore's development. The 49ers, however, believe that it makes the young defender more versatile having experience at multiple positions.
"Moving T. Moore to safety was a big move," cornerback Richard Sherman said Tuesday on KNBR. "He's been running with the ones. He's been playing confident, and playing consistent. Obviously, there's still a learning curve going from college, not playing corner for a year, and then coming back to safety. There's going to be a learning curve, but he's doing great."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan discussed Moore after Tuesday's practice and feels the safety is progressing.
"Each day, he's gotten better," Shanahan told reporters. "We're throwing a lot at him, and we moved him there in the middle, I think, of OTAs and he's come back on his 40 days away ready to attack it. He's gotten better each day, and he's earned more reps.
"We've been rotating a lot of those guys back there trying to see who can try to take that job, especially with Jimmie Ward out, and there's some stiff competition there, but Tarvarius is getting better."
As for Ward, the goal is to have him full-go in practice by the week leading to the 49ers' second preseason game — a road matchup against the Denver Broncos.
"I know he's able to run and do stuff like that, but any time you're dealing with a clavicle, you've got to make sure it's strong enough to take a hit," Shanahan said. "That's what we'll be patient with."
