NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Eric Williams
NFC West Writer
A previously unheralded player on one of the top defenses in the NFL, 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward is finally getting his flowers nationally.
The sixth-year pro earned his first Pro Bowl nod this week, one of a league-high nine San Francisco players voted to the annual all-star team, announced on Wednesday.
Ward has developed into a lockdown corner for the 49ers this season, and he’ll take center stage when San Francisco faces some of the league’s top receivers in the postseason, potentially including CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Puka Nacua.
“He’s now playing at that All-Pro-caliber level,” San Francisco defensive coordinator Steve Wilks told reporters. “You saw that, and I’ve seen it all year.”
Ward has 68 tackles in 16 starts, with a league-high 23 pass breakups and a career-high five interceptions, including one for a touchdown. According to Next Gen Stats, opposing quarterbacks have a 66.6 passer rating when targeting Ward during the regular season. He’s given up just two passing touchdowns this year.
Ward is the fourth-highest graded cornerback in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
“It’s just a different mentality,” Ward told the San Francisco Chronicle about his uptick in picks. “I know I’ve got to get the ball. I can’t be getting PBUs all my career. If I’m catching interceptions, it’s going to help the defense, help the team and help my bank account.”
With Pro Bowl safety Talanoa Hufanga out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee, Ward has emerged as the top playmaker in the secondary for San Francisco.
The 49ers are holding opponents to 306.7 passing yards a contest, No. 7 in the league. They’ve allowed just 19 passing touchdowns this season, tied for No. 4 in the league. And their 21 interceptions as a team rank second only to the Chicago Bears’ 22.
An undrafted rookie out of Middle Tennessee in 2018 who worked his way into a starting…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/49ers-charvarius-ward-emerging-as-shutdown-corner-heading-into-playoffs
Author :
Publish date : 2024-01-04 21:33:53
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
