SANTA CLARA — Free security Jimmie Ward’s availability for the 49ers’ season opener is all of a sudden in jeopardy due to a hamstring damage.
Ward was harm throughout Monday’s hour-long observe that consisted of simply 20 full-team snaps, the lightest session of coaching camp but additionally one which adopted a time without work.
Ward’s damage was the primary of a double-whammy information hit in regards to the 49ers’ secondary earlier than Tuesday’s observe. The opposite got here when the group launched Darqueze Dennard, who labored most of camp because the first-string nickel cornerback. That job, masking slot receivers, now appears ticketed for rookie Sam Womack III, who had two interceptions in Friday’s preseason-opening win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Ward’s absence might be felt greater than his injury-laden stints earlier in his profession, from his management as a captain to his on-field capability that acquired him ranked No. 96 within the NFL Community’s High-100 record Sunday.
“He’s an enormous locker room man and somebody we lean on to assist the youthful guys,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk mentioned. “His locker is subsequent to Trey (Lance’s) and I don’t assume that’s by chance. He talks loads behind the scenes and is type of a lynchpin of our protection, giving us a wide range of seems we will do.”
The stop-and-go nature of this camp’s schedule has coach Kyle Shanahan questioning the way it’s contributed to a rising tide of muscle strains, due to gamers’ lack of ability to “get right into a groove,” and, thus, “it’s been bothersome to me,” Shanahan mentioned.
Working again Elijah Mitchell and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley additionally strained hamstrings final week and usually are not anticipated to play in any of the 2 remaining preseason video games. Each had been conditioning on the aspect Tuesday.
“It’s a reasonably unhealthy hamstring damage. It’s not like the opposite two guys,” Shanahan mentioned of Ward’s damage. “We’ll see over the subsequent couple of weeks the way it performs out.”
Offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill, a candidate to start out at middle or proper guard, strained a hamstring in a one-snap cameo throughout Friday night time’s preseason opener. Beginning cornerbacks Charvarius Ward (groin) and offensive sort out Mike McGlinchey (knee) are amongst different gamers who're sidelined with muscle strains as camp nears its finish.
Ward, a ninth-year veteran, began each recreation final season for the primary time in his profession.
Tarvarius Moore and George Odum are “neck and neck” because the main candidates to switch Ward and line up at security subsequent to Talanoa Hufanga, presuming Ward is unable to get well in time for the Sept. 11 season opener on the Chicago Bears. Undrafted rookies Tayler Hawkins and Qwuantrezz Knight are different choices at security.
Veteran defensive again Dontae Johnson has cut up time at security and cornerback this camp, however he sustained a rib damage in Friday’s win over the Packers. Leon O’Neal Jr. was waived with a groin damage previous to that recreation. Shanahan mentioned the 49ers additionally plan to audition free agent choices, despite the fact that the roster should be trimmed from 91 to 86 gamers by 1 p.m.; offensive sort out Alfredo Gutierrez has a roster exemption as a global participant from Mexico.
Backup cornerbacks Ambry Thomas, Deommodore Lenoir, Ken Crawley and Tariq Castro-Fields acquired quite a lot of work in Monday’s 1 1/2-hour observe, whereas Ka’Dar Hollman labored with a coach on the aspect.
It was the 14th observe of camp. Tuesday is an off day earlier than joint practices in Minnesota on Wednesday and Thursday.
They’ve had 5 off days since reporting July 26, one every coming after a consecutive-day stretch of practices that went 4 days, three, three and two. They didn't observe the day earlier than nor after Friday’s preseason opener.
“It’s been an actual problem this camp, greater than any we’ve been in, with the way it’s spaced out with these video games and day-off guidelines, to actually get in a groove for guys,” Shanahan mentioned. “When you get about two days in, they get a time without work. Our largest problem has been these off days and tips on how to come again from them.”
NOTES
— Proper sort out McGlinchey’s knee damage would require a platelet-rich plasma injection and keep off his toes this week for a possible return subsequent week.
— Trey Lance accomplished 11-of-14 passes in full-team drills, highlighted by Deebo Samuel’s one-handed catch for a third-down conversion.
— Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw on a aspect discipline as observe started, which has been his customary process all camp whereas he stays in limbo. He is not going to journey with the group to Minnesota, Shanahan mentioned.
— To additional shave their roster towards Tuesday’s 85-man restrict, the 49ers waived backup fullback Josh Hokit, extensive receiver KeeSean Johnson and defensive sort out Tomasi Laulile.
Juszczyk mentioned he hated to see the discharge of his backup, Hokit, stating: “I informed him earlier than he left he can play on this league as a fullback, 100%. I’m hopeful he will get that chance. He’s executed a lot for us. This was his third 12 months, and he’s taken loads off my plate. Large locker room man. Everybody was shocked to see him go.”
— Juszczyk’s catch of a 20-yard Lance cross marked his thirteenth reception in 14 targets all camp. “At this level in my profession, I’ve gotten used to not getting a ton of seems throughout the week and in camp, and nonetheless be anticipated to make the play in video games,” Juszczyk mentioned. “That’s a power of mine. I relish the chance and might be prepared for it when Trey seems my approach.” Juzczczyk checked in at No. 100 on the NFL High 100 record.
— Cornerback Jason Verrett stays on the physically-unable-to-perform record and the 49ers might not determine whether or not to drag him off it till the top of the month. He was conditioning on the aspect at observe. “We’re not going to let him go till he’s greater than able to go,” Shanahan mentioned. “We’ll see how these subsequent two weeks go however it could in all probability shock me for Week 1.”
Clearing Verrett off PUP earlier than the season would stop the 49ers from placing him again on that record and sitting him the required 4 video games.