Niner Noise
FanSided

5 problems the San Francisco 49ers will face in 2017

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 02: Anthony Hitchens #59 of the Dallas Cowboys sacks quarterback Blaine Gabbert #2 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 02: Anthony Hitchens #59 of the Dallas Cowboys sacks quarterback Blaine Gabbert #2 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 07: Cole Beasley #11 of the Dallas Cowboys is unable to make the catch as he is defended by Jimmie Ward #25 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second half at AT&T Stadium on September 7, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 07: Cole Beasley #11 of the Dallas Cowboys is unable to make the catch as he is defended by Jimmie Ward #25 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second half at AT&T Stadium on September 7, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Injury Concerns at Safety

The 49ers have already lost three safeties to injuries during training camp. Jimmie Ward (hamstring), Eric Reid (ankle) and Jaquiski Tartt (ribs) have all missed time.

Reid has since returned, but Tartt is day-to-day and Ward remains on the physically unable-to-perform (PUP) list.

Ward and Reid enter this season as the starting tandem, free and strong safeties, respectively.

But both already have an injury with San Francisco, which doesn’t bode well in Robert Saleh’s defense.

Saleh will be using a lot of Cover 3, which calls for a single-high safety. Ward is slated to do this and has the skill set to excel. But as the last line of defense, Ward’s value needs to be felt on the field. The 49ers defense could experience all kinds of problems if Ward isn’t in the picture.

The Niners best hope is to ensure Ward’s ankle injury, and any other possible setbacks, won’t flare up when the regular season rolls around.