49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk on Jimmie Ward’s Top 100 Players debut: “He’s deserved that for a while”

In 2013, Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta came in at No. 100 on the NFL Top 100 Players list. San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk called his good friend, giving him a hard time for not getting into the double digits.

Nine years later, Juszczyk finds himself named to his second consecutive NFL Top 100 Players list. Last year, the fullback came in at No. 97. This year? No. 100. Juszczyk admits that karma probably finally caught up with him. Although, he is happy just to be on the list because his peers vote on it.

"Honestly, that's one of the biggest recognitions I could get," Juszczyk admitted on Monday.

While several other 49ers players are bound to show up once Nos. 1-50 are announced, one of Juszczyk's teammates has already been announced to the NFL Top 100 Players list, and it is his debut. That would be veteran safety Jimmie Ward, who came in at No. 96.

"I was also so happy for Jimmie Ward because I think he's deserved that for a while," Juszczyk said. "Everyone here knows what a player he is, and to get that recognition from other players around the league, honestly, that felt even happier for Jimmie."

Unfortunately, a hamstring injury will sideline Ward for a few weeks. It's one severe enough to put the starting safety's Week 1 availability into doubt.

"Jimmie's a huge locker room guy and someone that I think we lean on to help younger guys," Juszczyk shared. "If I'm not mistaken, I think Trey Lance's locker is right next to Jimmie. I don't think that was by accident. He may seem quiet at times but believe me, he's a leader, and one that talks a lot kinda behind the scenes. He's kind of a linchpin of our defense that gives us a lot of variety in the things we can do when he's out there."