49ers mailbag: What is Charvarius Ward’s injury status? Which 49er is the best at Madden 24? Strengths, weaknesses against potential playoff teams?

The San Francisco 49ers have won five straight games, after winning five straight, and then losing three straight. They would prefer to keep the current win streak going. Some might say this week's game, in Arizona against the Cardinals, will be a stroll in the park. But don't count on the 49ers to go in with that mindset. Even though they beat the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, Head Coach Kyle Shanahan still found things that could have been better.

We opened up the 49ers Webzone mailbag and took a look at the questions inside. Since it's the season of giving, we decided to go ahead and pass along our answers to your questions. Let's jump in and take a look.

Who on the team is the best at Madden 24? - Eric L.

I haven't heard them say, but if I had to guess, I'd say Jake Moody. For one thing, what else does a kicker have to do? And for another thing, Moody looks like someone who would be a pretty serious gamer. Of course, it could be because he looks like he's 14.

Other guesses:

• I can see Fred Warner being the most intense gamer. Imagine him giving his Madden team a pep talk before the game starts.
• Nick Bosa would be the worst player because he never plays. He's too busy working out.
• Brandon Aiyuk would be the smoothest player, whether he wins or loses.
• George Kittle would be the most annoying to play with because all he would want to do was wrestle.
• Brock Purdy probably doesn't play, but if he did, he'd be the best one because he'd know what the defense was doing before his opponents even knew.
• Trent Williams wouldn't be very good, but no one would be brave enough to beat him. So he might win the whole thing.
• Mitch Wishowski would only care about punting and running fake punts, so he'd be pretty easy to beat.
• Dre Greenlaw would probably knock people out of their chairs while they play.
• Shanahan would just glare at you, and you'd let him win.
• John Lynch would just smile at you, and you'd let him win.

What is Mooney Ward's injury status? - Ryan M.

Charvarius Ward, who leads the NFL in passes defended, has a groin injury but could play this Sunday in Arizona. Ward has dealt with this issue before, so there's also a chance they could have him rest this week so that he's ready for the Baltimore Ravens the week after.

In other injury news, Linebacker Oren Burks is dealing with knee tendonitis and will likely be shut down for a couple of weeks. Arik Armstead, (foot and knee) will probably miss another game. Javon Hargrave (hamstring) may be able to play on Sunday.

Shanahan said on Monday that he hopes to get Elijah Mitchell, Spencer Burford, and Darrell Luter, Jr. back this week. But as with all the injuries, we'll have to wait and see how the week goes. Matt Barrows, of "The Athletic," reported on Wednesday that Armstead, Ross Dwelley, Hargrave, Ward, Greenlaw, Burford, and Burks did not practice. He also said Mitchell was limited, but that Luter was a full go.

Why is Metcalf such a poor loser and crybaby? - Ray O.

I'm not sure, but he runs a little on the hot side. I think it's funny that Shanahan knew they could get him off his game if they got inside his head. They did, and it worked. D.K. Metcalf had two catches and one ejection.

Looking at the Rams' remaining schedule, do you see a scenario where Shannahan rests starters the last game of the season if the 1 seed is locked but the Rams need a W to get in the playoffs? - Jorge C.

If the 49ers have locked up the number one seed by the last week, then I think the starters may play a quarter or two. But it's not going to be easy to lock up that spot before the end of the season. Maybe if Dallas and Philadelphia drop a couple of games. That three-game losing streak hurt the 49ers and may be the difference between having a first-round bye and not having one.

As physical as the 49ers play, a first-round bye would be great for the 49ers, giving them a chance to heal and rest.

Hi, Marc. It seems we need to beat Dallas, Philly and maybe Detroit to get to the Super Bowl. In your opinion, what are our weaknesses and what are our strengths against these teams that can tip the balance one way or the other in the playoffs? - Jose

I don't think the 49ers will have to beat all three of those teams. Now if they don't get the top seed in the NFC, then I suppose it's possible. But with the top seed, they would only have to play two postseason games to get to the Super Bowl.

I think the 49ers' strengths are the physicality in which they play, along with the fact that the offense and the defense are either the best in the NFL or right near the top. This team doesn't currently have any weaknesses. If the 49ers are healthy, they should be fine. If not, then they will have vulnerable points. For example, if Ward misses time, it makes the pass coverage a weakness. Losing your best corner will do that to you. If Armstead and Hargrave miss much time, it hurts the pass rush and the run defense.

If Williams goes down, then we all know the offensive line won't be nearly as good. That affects the passing game and the running game. So the 49ers need to get healthy and stay healthy. Or at least as healthy as you can be in an NFL season.

But looking at the three teams Jose mentioned, here's what I'd say:

Dallas: This is the team that scares me the most. I realize the 49ers have beaten them three times in the past three seasons, but they have a really good offense and a really good defense. And if the game is in Dallas, it gets even tougher. As far as the 49ers' strengths and weaknesses against the Cowboys, a potential weakness would be in pass protection. A strength would be that Dallas is just not as physical as the 49ers.

Philadelphia: Right now, this is the team I'm the least worried about, especially if the game is in Santa Clara. I just don't think Jalen Hurts can beat you from the pocket, and if the 49ers can repeat their success of keeping him from hurting them with his legs, I'm not sure he can do much to beat you. And the Eagles' defense is just pitiful right now. They won't last long in the playoffs playing like that.

Detroit: This is the only team that looks like they can match the 49ers' physicality. So this might be the team we should be most concerned about. But they've been inconsistent, at times. Can the 49ers run the ball on the Lions? Can they protect Purdy? Can the 49ers' defense slow down the Lions offense? This might be a tough matchup, but I think the difference in postseason experience could be one of the things that gives the 49ers the edge.

Of the last four regular season games, does Baltimore pose the biggest challenge to the 49ers? - Ed H.

Yes, easily. The Rams won't be an easy win. And even this Sunday's game against the Cardinals makes me a little nervous. Here's why:

1. Kyler Murray has given the 49ers defense problems in the past. And he's quicker and faster than Hurts. Will the same approach work against Murray?
2. Some of the 49ers' injuries (particularly Armstead, Hargrave, and Burks) concern me, especially facing a good run game like Arizona has. The Cardinals not only have the running dimension that Murray brings, but James Conner is a good running back.
3. The 49ers are coming off three big wins and looking at a big game on Christmas night. This Arizona game is right in the midst of those. Could the 49ers be looking ahead and playing with a little less urgency on Sunday?

Facing Murray will be a good test for the 49ers, especially with Lamar Jackson coming to town the following week.

Why does the pass rush never seem to get to QB in the first half? Is it as simple as O-line gets tired and we wear them down? - Greavance

It could be some strategy. Against the Eagles, the 49ers stayed in their running lanes to keep Hurts from escaping the pocket and taking off. But in the second half, they started getting home.

Some of it is adjustments made at halftime. Some of it is that they usually have built a big lead in the second half and know teams aren't going to run the ball anymore. Some of it is that the rotation of the defensive line wears out opposing offensive lines. It's likely a combination of all these things.

What's Drake Jackson's status? Is he going to return this year? Seems like the more snaps he can get, the better for his development. Or is he already a bust in the doghouse? - Game of Jones

Darke Jackson started the season with a few sacks in Pittsburgh, but he soon went quiet. So much so that the 49ers traded for Randy Gregory and Chase Young, which essentially made Jackson disposable (in NFL terms). The 49ers placed Jackon on injured reserve in mid-November. Around that time, Shanahan told reporters, "Drake, he has had knee tendonitis that was bothering him. Hopefully, the injection he got should help it go away. He's got to rest for at least a month here and he'll have a chance if it recovers the right way and stuff to hopefully come back this year."

So it sounds like the plan was to give the second-year edge rusher a month off. We're at that month off right now, so we'll see if Jackson makes a return or if the 49ers shut him down for the rest of the season.

How is Jed after games? I used to see those videos of him greeting players after the game and in the locker room. They don't show much of him during games like they do other owners. - Jaime

He's still there, even if you're not seeing him as often. And he has been deliberate in taking a backseat in recent years. This means he doesn't want to be the voice of the team, like Jerry Jones. He's comfortable letting Shannahan and Lynch be the faces people see and the voices everyone hears. And it's working. There's no reason for him to be more seen than he is unless something happens that warrants it.

That's all we have this week. Thanks for all your questions. Check back next week for another edition of the 49ers Webzone Mailbag.