Charvarius Ward, known to teammates and coaches as "Mooney," stood on the sideline late in the game with his helmet in hand, watching his San Francisco 49ers protect a one-score lead over the Seattle Seahawks. It was a crucial game. A 49ers win would clinch the NFC West division crown, ensuring at least one home playoff game.
Ward had played well in the game, frustrating DK Metcalf. At one point, the Seahawks' star wide receiver was penalized for taunting and saw a 27-yard reception nullified thanks to an offensive pass interference call, grabbing a handful of Ward's jersey and pulling the defensive back down on the way to the catch.
It's what team decision-makers envisioned while making Ward the 49ers' big free agency prize this past offseason. Metcalf finished the game with seven catches on nine targets, but his longest was 13 yards, and the fourth-year veteran finished with just 55 receiving yards.
Only 33 of those yards and four of those receptions came against Ward, who was consistently tight in coverage.
"DK is as big of a challenge as any receiver in this league, how physical he is, how explosive he is," head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. "It was really cool to watch Mooney just battle with him. ... Just watching him battle throughout the whole game and not shy away, I thought he played a hell of a game."
So why was the 49ers' best cornerback standing on the sideline as an observer as the clock ticked down in the crucial division matchup? Ward had been evaluated for a concussion. He was cleared to return to the game. Still, something didn't seem right.
"I think he passed it initially, but I didn't feel totally right about it, just talking to him and stuff," Shanahan explained. "So we didn't think he should go back in."
There have been instances where players have been cleared to return to games only to exhibit concussion-like symptoms the next day. For example, safety Talanoa Hufanga was examined for a concussion during Week 6's contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He was cleared and returned to the game. However, the following day, he exhibited symptoms and was placed into the concussion protocol.
"He passed one after the game," Shanahan said on October 17, the day after that Week 6 matchup. "But then there's always a third one the day after a game, and he came in with some symptoms today."
So even with Thursday night's contest being far from decided, Shanahan and the coaches kept Ward off the field, protecting the cornerback from any potential prolonged issues. It's a move worth applauding.
San Francisco ended up beating the Seahawks 21-13, clinching the NFC West title for only the second time during Shanahan's tenure as head coach.