5 players 49ers can’t afford to lose to injury in 2020

No. 5: 49ers Safety Jimmie Ward

Re-signing Jimmie Ward was a top priority for San Francisco this offseason, and the Niners were able to bring the veteran back on a three-year deal after a career-best 2019 campaign.

Pro Football Focus ranked Ward the No. 6 overall safety last season. And this was evident when Ward returned after a broken finger that sidelined him a couple of games to start the regular season. While it was a small sample size during those early games, it was pretty clear reserve defensive back Tarvarius Moore wasn’t quite ready to assume full-time starting duties.

And Ward’s return was a big reason why the 49ers boasted the league’s best pass defense in 2019.

Yet Ward has a significant injury history of his own, which includes landing on season-ending injured reserve in four of his six seasons at the pro level. While that’s no fault of his own, it is something that has to be raised.

The 49ers didn’t restock their secondary much this offseason, almost entirely leaving their safety crop untouched from last year’s group.

Moore could be in position to assume a bigger role, yes. But if that was the route of thinking, the Niners likely wouldn’t have re-signed Ward.

As such, the 49ers’ former first-round draft pick from 2014 better stay on the field this season.