Kyle Shanahan Announces Jason Verrett Out Week 5, Jimmie Ward Activated

UPDATE: S Jimmie Ward (hamstring) has been activated for Week 5 at Carolina, per a team statement Saturday. This will be his first game of the 2022 season, suffering a significant hamstring injury during the preseason.

The 49ers also placed OL Colton McKivitz (knee) on IR, promoting DT Akeem Spence, RB Tevin Coleman and WR Malik Turner from the practice squad for Week 5.

Original Story:

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was coy when discussing the availability of star defensive backs Jimmie Ward and Jason Verrett Friday after practice, both slated to return from injuries in the next three weeks.

Eventually, Shanahan did confirm that Verrett would not be activated for Week 5 at Carolina, opting for a long-term approach with the veteran corner.

“Yeah, he would have [practiced Friday] if we went full speed. He’s just trying so hard to get back and get reps and we did a walkthrough. So we wanted to get him a full workout on the side, instead of just walking through,” Shanahan explained.

Shanahan confirms that the 49ers will not activate Jason Verrett from IR this week. They will discuss potentially activating Jimmie Ward this afternoon — that move would come tomorrow if it comes this week

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 7, 2022

As for Ward, his status is still up in the air, opting to make a decision on his availability during the plane ride to Charlotte. The 49ers don’t have to make it official until Saturday.

“With JV it’s not a decision on that, we’re gonna wait on him and we’ll discuss that with Jimmie here on this long plane ride we’re about to get on,” Shanahan added.

Ward has been on the short-term IR since sustaining a significant hamstring injury during the preseason, forcing him to miss the first four games of the regular season. Meanwhile, Verrett has been on the PUP list to open the year, recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 1 of the 2021 season.

Both have a 21-day window to return after their first official practice Wednesday, otherwise, they will be out for the remainder of the season.

The 49ers have one open roster spot currently, a number that could double if defensive tackle Arik Armstead (foot, ankle) is placed on injured reserve this weekend.

Arik Armstead actually hurt his other foot — not the one with plantar fasciitis. The other foot injury is not plantar fasciitis.

Armstead and Kinlaw will likely miss next week's game at Atlanta on top of this one at Carolina

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 7, 2022

A Sacramento native, Armstead suffered a different foot injury Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams, forcing him to miss most of the fourth quarter. With the 49ers having a relatively early bye week (Week 9), the team may opt to let the big man heal until Week 10’s clash against the Chargers.

“We can, we may, but we don’t have to decide that now. We’re still less than 53 [men on the roster] and we won’t decide that very fast. We actually possibly could decide that on Arik by tomorrow but we still got a lot more to discuss and talking with him. Because I think it’s four games, then the bye week, so we’ll see how that works out,” Shanahan said.

Week 5 Status Report

OUT:

DL Arik Armstead (foot, ankle)

RB Tyrion Davis-Price (ankle)

DT Javon Kinlaw (knee)

TE Tyler Kroft (knee)

OL Colton McKivitz (knee)

DB Tarvarius Moore (hamstring)

T Trent Williams (ankle)

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