The 49ers for at least another week will have to manage defensively without free safety Jimmie Ward. Ward injured his hamstring in the preseason and missed the first four games, then broke his hand on the first play of his return in last week’s game against the Panthers. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated there was a chance Ward wouldn’t miss any time after having surgery to fix the break, but now it sounds like he’s ruled out at least for the Falcons game Sunday.
Shanahan on Wednesday told reporters in an injury update that Ward’s surgery went well, and while he didn’t outright say Ward is out, he did say he has a chance to play in a few weeks.
“Jimmie Ward had his surgery, they have a cast put on it,” Shanahan said. “He should have a chance to play within a few weeks, but we won’t know anything until they re-evaluate that in about 10 days, see how it is with the cast.”
The 49ers defense has been the NFL’s top unit through the first five weeks even without Ward. When he does return it could be with a club on his hand that makes his job a little more difficult.
Either way San Francisco will be better when Ward is back on a more regular basis. His versatility gives defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans some options with how to use him and fill-in FS Tashaun Gipson together.
