Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/22
Teams continue to tinker with their rosters after hundreds of players were cut earlier this week. We’ve tracked all of today’s minor moves below:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Stephen Anderson, LS Aaron Brewer, CB Mike Ford, G Colby Gossett, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, S Dean Marlowe
- Placed on IR: S Charles Washington, WR Antoine Wesley
- Waived from IR: OL Greg Long
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Abdullah Anderson,
- Placed on IR: DL Marlon Davidson, TE John Fitzpatrick, LB Deion Jones, OL Jalen Mayfield, CB Isaiah Oliver
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived from IR: DT Aaron Crawford
Chicago Bears
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- Placed on IR: WR N’Keal Harry
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on IR: DE Khalid Kareem
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DB C.J. Goodwin, LS Jake McQuaide
- Placed on IR: OT Tyron Smith, WR James Washington
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Darius Phillips, DT Mike Purcell, TE Eric Tomlinson
- Released: DB Essang Bassey
- Placed on IR: TE Greg Dulcich, CB Michael Ojemudia
- Released from IR: CB Donnie Lewis
Green Bay Packers
- Released from IR: WR Danny Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: LB Trevor Denbow
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): LB Caleb Johnson
- Released: DL Adam Gotsis
- Reverted to IR: K Jake Verity
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: LB Daniel Hardy
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: S Clayton Fejedelem
- Released from IR: CB Mackensie Alexander, DB D’Angelo Ross
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: WR Tyquan Thornton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Dwayne Washington
- Placed on IR: OT Trevor Penning, DL Malcolm Roach
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Austin Calitro, TE Tanner Hudson, DL Nick Williams
- Claimed off waivers (from Ravens): G Tyre Phillips
- Placed on IR: OL Shane Lemieux, DE Elerson Smith, CB Rodarius Williams
- Released from IR: TE Dre Miller, TE Ricky Seals-Jones
New York Jets
- Signed: S Marcell Harris
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed off waivers (from Jaguars): LB Jamir Jones
- Released: LB Derrek Tuszka
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Tyler Kroft, DE Jordan Willis
- Placed on IR: LB Curtis Robinson, S Jimmie Ward
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Justin Coleman
- Placed on IR: DL LJ Collier
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: C Ryan Jensen
- Waived/injured: WR Cyril Grayson Jr.
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Cody Hollister
- Placed on IR: WR Racey McMath
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC West
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These 49ers, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s NFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Arizona Cardinals
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Andre Baccellia, WR Victor Bolden Jr., OL Rashaad Coward, OL Danny Isidora, DL Manny Jones, WR Jontre Kirklin, LB Jesse Luketa, QB Trace McSorley, TE Bernhard Seikovits (international player), CB Jace Whittaker, DL Antwaun Woods, LB Chandler Wooten
Los Angeles Rams
Signed to practice squad:
- T A.J. Arcuri, T Chandler Brewer, DE Earnest Brown IV, TE Roger Carter Jr.., DB TJ Carter, DE T.J. Carter, DT Elijah Garcia, DB Grant Haley, TE Jacob Harris, DB Dan Isom, G Jeremiah Kolone, TE Jared Pinkney, T Max Pircher (international player), RB Trey Ragas, DE Brayden Thomas, WR Austin Trammell, DE Benton Whitley
San Francisco 49ers
Signed:
- TE Tyler Kroft, DL Jordan Willis
Claimed:
- OL Blake Hance (from Browns)
Placed on IR:
- LB Curtis Robinson, DB Jimmie Ward
Released from IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Alex Barrett, S Tashaun Gipson, OL Alfredo Gutierrez, S Tayler Hawkins, CB Qwuantrezz Knight, WR Tay Martin, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball, OL Jason Poe, WR Willie Snead, DL Akeem Spence, OL Keaton Sutherland, DL Kemoko Turay, WR Malik Turner
Seattle Seahawks
Signed:
Claimed:
- DB Isaiah Dunn (from Jets), DE Daryl Johnson (from Panthers)
Waived:
- LB Joshua Onujiogu
Placed on IR:
- DE L.J. Collier, CB John Reid
Reverted to IR:
- RB Josh Johnson
Signed to practice squad:
- WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, LB Aaron Donkor (international playear), T Greg Eiland, WR Cade Johnson, LB Vi Jones, TE Tyler Mabry, QB Sean Mannion (story), WR Bo Melton, CB Quandre Mosely, LB Tanner Muse, S Scott Nelson, T Liam Ryan, RB Darwin Thompson
49ers Set 53-Man Roster, Plan To Place S Jimmie Ward On IR
The 49ers’ 53-man roster is set, with a couple of exceptions. Multiple players included among Tuesday’s cuts will be back with the team. Some will also stick around via the practice squad. Here is how San Francisco reached the 53-man limit:
Released:
- TE Troy Fumagalli
- S Tashaun Gipson (story)
- CB Dontae Johnson
- WR Marcus Johnson
- TE Tyler Kroft
- OL Jordan Mills
- WR Willie Snead
- DL Akeem Spence
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- DL Kemoko Turay (story)
- WR Malik Turner
- DL Jordan Willis
Waived:
- DL Kevin Atkins
- DL Alex Barrett
- CB Tariq Castro-Fields
- OL Alfredo Gutierrez
- RB JaMycal Hasty
- S Tayler Hawkins
- CB Qwuantrezz Knight
- WR Tay Martin
- LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
- LB Segun Olubi
- OL Jason Poe
- OL Justin Skule
- OL Keaton Sutherland
Kroft and Willis will be on the 53-man roster soon, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, who notes (via Twitter) the two have agreed to re-sign with the 49ers. Each is a vested veteran, allowing them to skip the waiver process. A Bengals draftee, Kroft spent two seasons in Buffalo and was with the Jets in 2021. A rotational D-lineman, Willis has been with the 49ers since 2020.
These two will take the roster spots of Jimmie Ward and linebacker Curtis Robinson, who will each be placed on IR. By waiting until Wednesday to move each to IR, the 49ers will ensure Ward and Robinson can play in 2022. Ward suffered what appears to be a significant hamstring injury and will miss at least the first four games this season.
Hasty has resided as a fill-in back for the 49ers over the past two seasons; they have needed him in each. The team currently rosters Elijah Mitchell, Jeff Wilson, Trey Sermon and rookie Tyrion Davis-Price at running back. Snead and Turner signed with the 49ers this offseason; each has practice squad eligibility. Teams can carry up to six vested veterans on their 16-man taxi squads. Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy beat out Sudfeld for the 49ers’ No. 3 QB job. Offset language exists in Sudfeld’s deal, Maiocco tweets, allowing the 49ers to potentially be off the hook for the $2MM they guaranteed him.
Kyle Shanahan confirmed Tuesday that Jimmy Garoppolo — back after taking a pay cut — will be Trey Lance‘s top backup. While this would have been quite the gamble, Shanahan said Purdy would have been Lance’s backup had Garoppolo not accepted the pay cut (Twitter link via Maiocco).
49ers S Jimmie Ward Likely To Land On IR
It sounds like veteran Jimmie Ward is going to miss part of the upcoming season. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner writes that the 49ers safety is likely to land on injured reserve to start the regular season, which would knock him out for the first four games.
[RELATED: 49ers To Sign S Tashaun Gipson]
Ward originally suffered a hamstring injury back on August 14. The injury was described as “pretty bad,” and while the safety was expected to miss some time with the issue, it was uncertain if it’d extend into the regular season. It sounds like that’ll be the case, meaning Ward would miss at least one game for the sixth-consecutive season.
With that said, the 31-year-old has been healthier in recent years. After being limited to only 16 games between 2017 and 2018, Ward has missed only six contests over the past three years. He started a career-high 16 games this past season, finishing with 77 tackles, six passes defended, and two interceptions. Pro Football Focus ended up ranking him 16th among 92 qualifying safeties last season.
“He allows us to do what we do,” Lynch said (via Wagoner). “He’s a safety who plays like a safety but also covers like a corner. He’s often times our best cover man, so it’s a big loss. But we got to find a way to step up.”
Assuming Ward does miss some time, the 49ers would likely turn to former cornerback Dontae Johnson, Tarvarius Moore, or George Odum. The 49ers also recently signed safety Tashaun Gipson.
Injury Updates: 49ers, Rams, Browns, Bears
The 49ers have been dealing with a number of minor injuries in training camp lately, but one which is significant not only in its serenity but also its impact on the team is the one currently ailing free safety Jimmie Ward. He has suffered a hamstring injury, and his Week 1 availability is now in question, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner (Twitter link).
Ward has been a starter on the backend in San Francisco since his second season in 2015. He has been a consistent contributor throughout that time, including on the NFC-winning squad of 2019. His level of play that year earned him a three-year extension, giving him financial security for the first time in his career.
Ward is in line to start once again in 2022, the final season of that deal. He and 2021 fifth-rounder Talanoa Hufanga are the top safety options on the depth chart, so any extended absence from Ward would be a major blow to a 49ers team looking to repeat last season’s playoff run, and whose weakness on defense is generally viewed as being in the secondary. Tarvarius Moore and George Odum would be amongst the team’s options to fill in for Ward should he miss any time.
Here are some other injury notes from around the league, starting with another NFC West contender:
- The Rams are facing some uncertainty in their offensive backfield. Head coach Sean McVay announced that running backs Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson are both dealing with “soft-tissue” injuries (Twitter link via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop). The pair are in line to occupy the top two spots on the depth chart, though injuries are nothing new to either player. McVay added that neither of them will return to practice until they have fully recovered, but didn’t provide a timeline regarding when that may take place.
- The center position has become a sore spot for the Browns recently, given the season-ending injury to Nick Harris, who was the favorite to take over the starting role. The team’s depth at the pivot is being tested even further, as seventh-round rookie Dawson Deaton suffered a torn ACL, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). With him sidelined for the season as well, Cleveland is down to free agent signing Ethan Pocic and UDFA Brock Hoffman as their only remaining healthy options. Pocic has starting experience, but another addition would come as little surprise at this point.
- Another team dealing with center injuries is the Bears. Sixth-round rookie Doug Kramer is believed to have suffered a Lisfranc injury, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). In that case, his 2022 availability will be seriously in doubt, something which would be especially problematic if starter Lucas Patrick isn’t recovered from the hand surgery he had recently in time for the start of the regular season.
NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/8/22
Today’s updates for the reserve/COVID-19 and practice squad/COVID-19 lists:
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB D’Ernest Johnson
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Malcolm Smith, DB Denzel Ward
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Jayron Kearse
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: S Darian Thompson
Detroit Lions
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Taylor Decker, T Penei Sewell
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB Rodney Smith
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Ezra Cleveland, T Christian Darrisaw
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Caleb Benenoch
New York Jets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Sharrod Neasman, C Ross Pierschbacher
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Joe Haden, C Kendrick Green
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR James Washington
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Dontae Johnson, S Jimmie Ward, CB K’Waun Williams, CB Darqueze Dennard
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB Curtis Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Kyle Fuller
Washington Football Team
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jordan Kunaszyk
NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/4/22-1/5/22
Here are Tuesday and Wednesday’s activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Breon Borders, LB Markus Golden, OL D.J. Humphries, LB Devon Kennard
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Zach Kerr, LB Tanner Vallejo, TE Maxx Williams (from IR)
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Marlon Davidson, S Jaylinn Hawkins, TE Hayden Hurst, WR Tajae Sharpe, LB James Vaughters
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: G Willie Beavers
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Josh Oliver
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Kevin Toliver
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Darryl Johnson, LB Haason Reddick, TE Tommy Tremble, QB P.J. Walker
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Yetur Gross-Matos
Chicago Bears
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jesper Horsted (remains on IR), OLB Charles Snowden
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Trenton Irwin, DB Trae Waynes
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Scotty Washington
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Vonn Bell, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, DE Trey Hendrickson, C Trey Hopkins, G Quinton Spain, DT B.J. Hill, RB Joe Mixon
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Elijah Lee, LB Tony Fields
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB Nick Mullens, S Tedric Thompson
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB D’Ernest Johnson, RB Dexter Williams
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: S Jovante Moffatt
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Quinton Bohanna, LB Micah Parsons (story), LB Keanu Neal
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: S Tyler Coyle, T Isaac Alarcon, CB Kyron Brown
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Josh Ball
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: DT Josiah Bronson
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE McTelvin Agim, LB Baron Browning, DB Bryce Callahan, LB Bradley Chubb, LB Jonathon Cooper, DB Mike Ford, WR Jerry Jeudy, T Bobby Massie, WR Tim Patrick, NT Mike Purcell, DB Caden Sterns, LB Stephen Weatherly
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Tyrie Cleveland
Detroit Lions
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Kalif Raymond
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Joel Heath, TE Hunter Bryant (from NFI)
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Elgton Jenkins, T Dennis Kelly, S Darnell Savage, WR Amari Rodgers, DE Kingsley Keke
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: K J.J. Molson, LB Ray Wilborn
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Billy Turner
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Danny Amendola, TE Antony Auclair, LB Ron’Dell Carter, T Tytus Howard, RB David Johnson, DB Lonnie Johnson, WR Chris Moore
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: K Dominik Eberle, TE Paul Quessenberry
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: Luke Rhodes
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Dan Arnold (remains on IR), TE Jacob Hollister, WR Jaydon Mickens, DT Jay Tufele
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Josh Hammond
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: P J.K. Scott
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: DB Josh Jackson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Carl Nassib, G Jordan Simmons, TE Darren Waller
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Kamaal Seymour (from NFI)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jared Cook, LB Damon Lloyd (remains on IR)
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Nick Vigil, QB Kirk Cousins, T Brian O’Neill
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Chris Herndon, DE Tashawn Bower
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Parry Nickerson
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Ryan Ramczyk, DB Dylan Mabin
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Kevin White, TE Ethan Wolf
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Albert Huggins
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Jordan Miller
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Korey Cunningham, DE Dexter Lawrence, T Matt Peart (remains on IR), NT Danny Shelton, WR Darius Slayton
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB Omari Cobb, CB Ka’dar Hollman
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: NT Woodrow Hamilton
New York Jets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Tevin Coleman, TE Tyler Kroft, DE Quinnen Williams
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: G Isaiah Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR KeeSean Johnson
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR John Hightower, RB Craig James, TE Noah Togiai
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Dallas Goedert
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Zach Banner, LB Devin Bush, DB Arthur Maulet, RB Anthony McFarland, LB Joe Schobert, DE Chris Wormley
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Anthony Miller, WR Steven Sims, WR Tyler Vaughns
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Joe Haden
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Dontae Johnson, DB Jimmie Ward, DB Ambry Thomas, CB Deommodore Lenoir
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Blessuan Austin
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Gavin Heslop, DE Alton Robinson, DT Myles Adams, DT Al Woods
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Jaelon Darden, P Bradley Pinion
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Monty Rice
Washington Football Team
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Tress Way, G Ereck Flowers, RB Antonio Gibson
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Deshazor Everett, DB William Jackson
NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/3/22
Here are Monday’s activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: C Sam Tecklenburg, DE Darryl Johnson, C Matt Paradis
Chicago Bears
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jesper Horsted, LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Darius Phillips (remains on IR), WR Auden Tate (remains on IR)
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jordan Evans
Denver Broncos
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: K Brandon McManus, P Sam Martin
Detroit Lions
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Michael Brockers, WR Josh Reynolds, OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai, TE Brock Wright
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Austin Bryant, T Taylor Decker, T Penei Sewell
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB Rodney Smith
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Chauncey Rivers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jaire Alexander, OT Dennis Kelly, DB Darnell Savage, WR David Moore
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Justin Reid
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Malik Jefferson
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB James Morgan, TE Eli Wolf
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Mike Remmers (remains on IR)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Will Compton, LB Patrick Onwuasor
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: OG Lester Cotton, OG Jeremiah Poutasi
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Andrew Brown, LB Kenneth Murray
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Raymond Calais (remains on IR)
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: NT John Jenkins, WR Preston Williams
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: C Spencer Pulley, DT Durval Queiroz Neto
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Patrick Jones II
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Camryn Bynum, G Ezra Cleveland, T Christian Darrisaw, LB Eric Kendricks, T Brian O’Neill
New England Patriots
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Myles Bryant
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: T William Sherman
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: K Wil Lutz, OL Landon Young
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Jalen Dalton (from IR)
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Kyle Phillips
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Andre Chachere
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Genard Avery, DT Fletcher Cox, DB Marcus Epps, G Nate Herbig, RB Jordan Howard, C Jason Kelce, DB Avonte Maddox, DB Rodney McLeod, RB Boston Scott, LB Alex Singleton, TE Jack Stoll
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Damion Willis
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Raheem Mostert (from IR), CB K’Waun Williams, DB Jimmie Ward
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Alton Robinson
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Julio Jones, LB Jayon Brown, OT Kendall Lamm
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: OT Paul Adams
Washington Football Team
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Samuel Cosmi, CB Darryl Roberts
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: G Beau Benzschawel
49ers Restructure Jimmie Ward’s Deal
Entering Friday at the bottom of the NFL in cap space, the 49ers moved back toward the middle of the pack with one move. They redid safety Jimmie Ward‘s deal, creating nearly $6MM in cap room, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
San Francisco carried less than $1MM in space, per OverTheCap, prior to this move. The team moved around $7.8MM of Ward’s 2021 salary into a bonus, creating approximately $5.85MM in cap room, per Yates. This slides the 49ers up to 16th in cap space going into Week 1.
This marks the first Ward restructure. The former first-round pick re-signed with the 49ers last year, doing so after a lengthy stretch without a long-term deal. Ward played out his rookie contract, which included a fifth-year option season, and re-signed to stay in San Francisco on a one-year deal in 2019. After Ward played a key role for the NFC champion 49ers defense that season, he received a three-year, $28.5MM offer. That deal initially called for an $8.4MM base salary this season. That number is now much lower.
While this move will raise Ward’s 2022 cap figure, it gives the 49ers some additional flexibility going into this season.
49ers Re-Sign Jimmie Ward
The 49ers have been forced to reshape their defense, but they’re still looking to hold on to their own where ever possible. That’s what they did with safety Jimmie Ward, who has been re-upped on a new three-year deal worth $28.5MM, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
[RELATED: 49ers Trade Buckner To Colts]
Ward, 28, has been set back by injuries throughout his career, but he stayed healthy for the most part and shined in 2019. The veteran tallied a career-best 65 tackles in 13 starts, an indicator that even better things could be on the horizon.
Last year, the Niners kept Ward with a one-year prove-it deal. This time around, he has the security of a multi-year pact that will pay him $9.5MM per annum.
The Northern Illinois product was an integral part of SF’s secondary last year. On the whole, the unit graded out No. 2 in defensive DVOA. He also settled in at the free safety position – before last year, he saw time at multiple spots as coaches tried to figure out the best way to use him.
All along, Ward has said that he wanted to return to the NFC champs.
“This is where I would like to be,” Ward said in February (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “I like to continue playing for this great organization.”
Now, he’s under contract with the Niners through the 2022 season.