Jaquiski Tartt injury history, projected outlook for 2021

Jaquiski Tartt has made the 49ers defense better when he’s been on the field. Yet injuries have kept him off the field a lot over his pro career.

The San Francisco 49ers defense is notably better when veteran strong safety Jaquiski Tartt is on the field.

Tartt, a Round 2 pick out of Samford in the 2015 NFL Draft, was one of only a handful of players head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch carried over during their massive roster overhaul beginning in 2017. And it’s likely the tandem understood Tartt’s versatility, both as a towards-the-box safety and as someone who could play free safety, too.

Interestingly enough, though, Tartt’s injury history ramped up a lot when Shanahan and Lynch took over the franchise that year.

In the two years before, Tartt had missed only two games — one his rookie season and another in 2016 — before setting a rather unfortunate trend of becoming an injury-prone player. And with the latest news surrounding Tartt and a lingering turf-toe injury that could potentially cut into the 2021 regular season, it’s fair to question the immediate and long-term future of a talented player who has dealt with more than his fair share of injuries.

Entering 2021, Tartt has missed 28 of a possible 64 regular-season games the last four years.

Jaquiski Tartt injury history

Tartt’s latest setback was directly related to an injury suffered a year ago, but let’s break down the entirety of his injuries over his career.

Jaquiski Tartt turf-toe, knee injuries (2021)

A turf-toe injury suffered late the previous season was reportedly reaggravated during training camp. After Tartt spent a brief stint on the reserve/COVID list, the Niners subsequently placed him on the physically unable-to-perform (PUP) list just ahead of the 2021 preseason.

Shanahan later told reporters there was no timetable for Tartt’s return, meaning it’s highly possible he misses time in the regular season.

In Week 7, Tartt suffered a bone bruise on his knee that landed him on injured reserve, forcing him to miss a minimum of three weeks.

Jaquiski Tartt turf-toe injury (2020)

The original turf-toe injury occurred in Week 9 during a Thursday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers, which forced Tartt out of the lineup.

San Francisco subsequently placed Tartt on season-ending injured reserve, and he missed the final seven games of the year.

Tartt also missed Weeks 7 and 8 in 2020, limiting him to seven games played the entire season.

Jaquiski Tartt ribs injury (2019)

In the only season under Shanahan and Lynch where he didn’t land on season-ending injured reserve, Tartt nevertheless suffered a ribs injury during the 49ers’ Week 13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that forced him out for the final four regular-season games of the year.

Tartt was able to get back onto the field, however, for the Niners’ playoff run that season, which included three games into Super Bowl LIV.

Jaquiski Tartt shoulder injury (2018)

The same season in which he signed a two-year extension before his rookie deal was set to expire, Tartt ended up dealing with a shoulder injury that hindered his efforts almost the entire year.

He missed Weeks 3 and 4, then Weeks 9 and 10 before ultimately missing the final four games of the year, ultimately landing on injured reserve for San Francisco’s Week 17 bout, culminating in a total of eight games missed over the entirety of 2018.

Jaquiski Tartt forearm injury (2017)

Shanahan initially tabbed Tartt as the reserve strong safety in 2017, although another injury to fellow safety Jimmie Ward opened up the door for Tartt to get a hold on starting duties in Shanahan’s first year as head coach.

In Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals, though, Tartt suffered a fractured forearm, and the 49ers placed him on season-ending injured reserve on Nov. 6.

He missed seven games that year.

Jaquiski Tartt quad injury (2016)

Tartt missed one game (Week 6) due to a quadriceps injury suffered the previous week, the only game missed in 2016.

Jaquiski Tartt hand, knee injuries (2015)

Ahead of the 2015 draft and during that year’s NFL Scouting Combine, Tartt was nursing a hand injury, which prompted him to pass on all drills outside of those involving running.

After being selected in Round 2, Tartt missed the final game of his rookie year because of a knee injury.

Jaquiski Tartt: Projected injury outlook for 49ers in 2021 and beyond

The Niners brought Tartt back on a one-year deal last offseason with the hopes he’d be fully recovered from the turf-toe injury suffered late in 2020.

Sadly, it doesn’t look as if this will be the case.

On the positive side, though, San Francisco reinforced the depth behind Tartt during the offseason, too, signing veterans like Tavon Wilson and Tony Jefferson while also grabbing a rookie, Talanoa Hufanga, in Round 5 of this year’s NFL Draft.

Read More: Jaquiski Tartt’s goal for 49ers in 2021 should be to stay healthy

The idea, however, would be for Tartt to see as much playing time as possible. So, the news of there being no specific timetable for Tartt’s return is a clear setback.

Especially considering the current injury is in direct relation to what was suffered a year ago, and the possibility of it being chronic could be a devastating blow for his career, which is up in the air with him scheduled to be a free agent in 2022.