Slot corner Jimmie Ward? 49ers DB trying to be team player in contract year

When San Francisco 49ers safety Jimmie Ward spoke with reporters last week, he had his left hand encased in a hefty cast—resembling a club. He broke that hand during the opening kickoff of the team's Week 5 contest against the Carolina Panthers, forcing him to miss most of that game and the next one.

As he stepped on the field against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Ward had moved to a smaller cast. By Wednesday, Ward was wearing a splint. While there has been significant progress, the reasoning behind the smaller in-game cast had more to do with the complications from wearing the club.

"I started getting blisters on my skin," Ward told reporters on Wednesday (h/t Grant Cohn of SI). "So I needed some air to get through it. So that's the reason why I didn't [play] with the whole club [against the Chiefs]. I probably should have worn the club. Maybe I never would have gotten a holding penalty."

Over his career, Ward has proven himself to be a versatile player, playing everywhere in the defensive backfield. However, his preference is playing safety.

Forty-five of Ward's 56 snaps against the Chiefs came at nickel cornerback, the same position he played as a rookie in 2014, and not at his preferred safety spot. It's not his ideal role, but one he's willing to take on if it means helping the team. Tashaun Gipson has been handling one safety role, while Talanoa Hufanga has impressed at the other.

Does that mean the slot position is something Ward might have to get used to?

"I don't know, man," Ward answered. "I'm just going to do what the coaches tell me to do. It's my last year on the contract. I'm just trying to be a great team player."

Ward is in the final year of the three-year, $28.5 million deal he signed with the 49ers in 2020. He's scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the season. That's down the road, though. Right now, the defensive back is trying to stay on the field—wherever his coaches ask him to play—and help the defense rebound from back-to-back rough outings.

A reporter reminded Ward it had been a while since he manned the slot position.

"It's been a while since I've even been on the field," Ward responded, somewhat joking but knowing it was a true statement. "I don't know, man. It's been a challenge, man. Like I said, it's a challenge. Maybe if I was at safety—I don't know—it probably would have been a challenge, too.

"I have no clue, man. I've got to just figure it out. I don't have any excuses or anything. I've just to go out there, and I've just got to go and play. I can't hope for anything. I can't wish I didn't have a club. I can't wish I was back at safety. So I go out there and play, man.

"I don't have room to hope or wish and this and that. I've just got to go out there and give it my all."

The next challenge for the defender who prides himself as a hard-hitter and a shut-down defensive back could be Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Ward missed the first bout at Levi's Stadium between the 49ers and Rams. The second will take place this weekend at SoFi Stadium.

"It's going to be another challenge," Ward shared. "I've got a club. I'm playing nickel now. Hey, man, it's going to be a lot of work for me. So I'll figure it out and play to the best of my ability."

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• 49ers' Jimmie Ward on position swap: 'I can't wish I was back at safety' San Francisco Chronicle • Oct 26, 2022
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• Jimmie Ward, playing out of position, faces huge test vs. Rams' Cooper Kupp NBCS Bay Area • Oct 27, 2022