Charvarius Ward has done so much to help the San Francisco 49ers’ defense in the 2023 season, but their top cornerback was disappointed in one area of his game heading into Sunday’s Week 15 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals.

Despite leading the NFL in pass breakups, Ward had only two interceptions to his name for the season. In space of under four quarters against the Cardinals, Ward doubled that tally.

Questionable due to a groin injury, Ward played against the Cardinals despite not practicing all week, and he vindicated that decision in style in the second quarter.

Ward ends a long wait

Ward picked off Kyler Murray on fourth down and took his interception return 66 yards to the endzone, ending a remarkably long wait for a touchdown for the former Kansas City Chiefs corner.

“I’ve never scored. Not even in high school, junior college, Division 1,” Ward told a post-game press conference after the Niners clinched the NFC West title with a 45-29 win over the Cardinals.

“Not Pop Warner though, because I was a quarterback in Pop Warner. I scored almost every game in Pop Warner. Hopefully this isn’t my last one in the NFL.”

Describing that play, Ward added: “It was cover three, tight end 85, [Trey] McBride, I saw him coming over. If he would’ve continued to go I would have to let him go, but as soon as he sat down he turned into my man.

“As soon as he sat down, just kind of drove on it and Kyler threw the ball kind of late. I caught it and didn’t break stride.”

A change for the better

Catching the ball has been the primary issue for Ward, who has consistently produced lockdown coverage and proven his ability to disrupt at the catch point, but he proved his sure-handedness again in the fourth quarter by picking off Murray for a second time to essentially ice the game.

His success in turning his plays on the ball into picks was in part a product of a change in his preparation.

Asked what he’s been doing differently, Ward replied: “Just working, being on the jugs (machine). This week I caught balls from [49ers backup QB] Sam Darnold. Sam’s a quarterback who throws the ball hard.

“It’s different when the quarterback is throwing the balls to you rather than your coach throwing the ball to you. There’s a different spin on it. Caught some balls from Sam Darnold and will probably do it every week.”

All-Pro on the horizon?

Ward received effusive praise for his performance in the Thanksgiving win over the Seattle Seahawks in which he shut down DK Metcalf but, for his teammates, his two-interception effort was overdue reward for a player whom they believe is worthy of special recognition for his level of play this season.

Fred Warner said of the pick-six: “That was amazing. We needed that. Especially in that moment. A big time play by him and he’s been playing at an All-Pro level all season and leading the league in PBU’s, but he’s been talking about how he needs to get those interceptions to really lock it down. 

"[For him] to have two today, one for a touchdown, I can't speak enough to how amazing he’s been playing. We needed him big time today.”

Nick Bosa echoed Warner’s assessment, adding: “He's playing, I think I said a couple weeks ago, at an All-Pro level. The stats don't always tell the whole story but, I am very happy that he was able to get that. He deserves it.

“He's a top corner in the league right now.”

Standing out on a roster as loaded as that of San Francisco is not easy, but now with 22 pass breakups and four interceptions, Ward has the numbers to back up the finest individual season of a hugely impressive career. 

With excellent showings against Metcalf and A.J. Brown in front of huge audiences on his resume for this year, it is becoming increasingly hard to dispute Warner and Bosa’s view that Ward should end his second season with the Niners on the All-Pro team.

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