49ers' latest injury report leaves them with chance to continue with plan that has potential to backfire
One of the biggest surprises of the San Francisco 49ers' disappointing 2-3 start has been in the secondary. While Deommodore Lenoir has continued to ascend, 2023 second-team All-Pro Charvarius Ward has endured some uncharacteristic struggles. A disappointing Week 5 performance in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals in which he allowed three catches for 67 […]
One of the biggest surprises of the San Francisco 49ers' disappointing 2-3 start has been in the secondary.
While Deommodore Lenoir has continued to ascend, 2023 second-team All-Pro Charvarius Ward has endured some uncharacteristic struggles.
A disappointing Week 5 performance in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals in which he allowed three catches for 67 yards appeared as if it could be attributed to injury when Ward popped up on the 49ers' estimated Monday practice report ahead of Thursday's primetime clash with the Seattle Seahawks.
However, Kyle Shanahan said Ward would be limited in Tuesday's practice, indicating he has a shot to play in a game in which he has history of excelling.
49ers preliminary injury report
DNP: Talanoa Hufanga (wrist), Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf), Jake Moody (ankle), Jordan Elliott (knee)
Limited: Charvarius Ward (knee), Chris Conley (oblique), George Kittle (ribs), Fred Warner (ankle), Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle)
Ward traveled with DK Metcalf in each of the last two road games against the Seahawks, both Thursday night wins for San Francisco, and enjoyed tremendous success in doing so. Last season, in the 49ers' Thanksgiving victory over Seattle, Ward gave up just one catch for 14 yards on six targets when in coverage against Metcalf.
Despite the possibility of it being a very different outcome this year with Ward struggling for his best and seemingly not 100 percent healthy, the 49ers are open to him sticking with Metcalf this year.
However, defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen is aware San Francisco can't solely focus on Metcalf.
"It can happen, we'll see, we evaluate everything and we'll go from there," Sorensen said of the possibility of having Ward travel with Metcalf.
"I like all our corners, I respect DK a lot, I respect Tyler Lockett a lot, he's done it for 10 years and even Jaxon Smith-Njigba. I think they have really talented group starting with, you know, Geno [Smith and the running back [Kenneth Walker III] too.
"I think overall if you look at the skill group, it might be the most talented one we've played overall. When you put the tight ends in it and all the receivers, really both running backs. And then Geno, who can still do it, I think he still moves around well enough. He's been getting rid of the ball fast. I know he's got a great arm and they've been getting a lot of explosive plays."
Ward being able to lock down Metcalf would go a long way to the 49ers limiting those explosives. However, after another loss in which San Francisco failed to produce a complete team performance, the Niners can't afford to rely on one player to achieve a very difficult feat for the third successive year. If the 49ers are to slow down Seattle and get back to 3-3, it will take a group effort from the defense.
Hufanga won't be part of that group effort after Shanahan confirmed he will be out for around a month with torn ligaments in his wrist. Flannigan-Fowles is unlikely to feature while Elliott continues to battle the knee injury he suffered in the Week 4 win over the New England Patriots. He played 48 percent of the defensive snaps against Arizona.
