Defensive back Jimmie Ward has signed a contract to remain with the San Francisco 49ers. The deal is for one year, worth $5 million. Ward has spent all five years of his career with the 49ers.
The #49ers re-signed DB Jimmie Ward on a 1-year deal worth $5M, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2019
Jimmie Ward Agrees to New Deal With San Francisco 49ers
The fifth-year safety has spent his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers. Despite being listed as a strong safety, Ward has been a versatile piece of the 49ers secondary, lining up at cornerback, both safety positions, and nickel corner too. Unfortunately for the 49ers, Ward has struggled to stay healthy and has played a full 16 game season only once in his career. In four of the five seasons, the defensive back has been knocked out with season-ending injuries and has missed a total of 29 games in his career.
In 2018, Ward started the season off healthy and played in nine games, including seven starts. The defensive back recorded 24 tackles and one forced fumble before being put on the injured reserve after suffering a broken forearm. In the year prior, Ward recorded 32 tackles, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery in six starts. He was put on the injured reserve early in November after fracturing his forearm. Two seasons and two consecutive forearm injuries.
2016 was a very productive year for Ward as he won the starting cornerback job for then head coach Chip Kelly. He suffered a quad injury that kept him out a couple of weeks in the middle of the season but Ward finished the year with 52 tackles, a career-high 12 pass deflections, and one interception. His best game came against the New York Jets after he recorded 11 tackles, three pass deflections, and one interception. Unfortunately, Ward fractured his clavicle in Week 15 and was placed on the injured reserve.
Ward was at his healthiest in 2015 and had his best season. In 16 games, the defensive back recorded a career-high 54 tackles, six pass deflections, four tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception returned for a touchdown. Ward primarily served as a backup but did make eight spot starts due to injuries in the secondary.
As a rookie, Ward had little impact on the 49ers defense and recorded 20 tackles in eight games. A foot injury kept him out for much of the latter half of the season and Ward was eventually placed on the injured reserve.
Ward was selected by the 49ers with the 30th overall pick in the 2014 draft after playing four years at Northern Illinois.
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