DeMeco Ryans Excited to Have Ward, Verrett Back at Practice This Week
Oct 7, 2022, 7:00 AM | Updated: 8:42 am
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 3: Defensive Coordinator DeMeco Ryans and Linebackers Coach Johnny Holland of the San Francisco 49ers on the sideline during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on October 3, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Rams 24-9. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers‘ defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans was giddy talking to the media Thursday about his unit, and why shouldn’t he.
Currently leading one of the best defenses in football, Ryans’s unit ranks among the top of all metrics through four weeks. The best stat: First in points allowed at 11.5 per game. Now heading into Week 5, Ryans has another reason to be cheerful, getting two key defensive backs back on the practice field.
Safety Jimmie Ward and cornerback Jason Verrett were activated Wednesday, opening up a 21-day period before a final decision has to be made on their status for the season. Thankfully, it appears they’ll both be back sooner than later.
“Yeah. I’m excited that we were able to open those guys’ window to get them back out to practice. JV and Jimmie have been great players for us. Integral parts to our defense, so I’m just excited to see those guys back out there,” Ryans said Thursday after practice.
Both players were full of energy in their second practice back, which is not a surprise to Ryans, expecting this from his captain.
“Oh, for sure. You can feel the energy out there, what those guys bring, especially Jimmie. The energy that he brings just as a captain, as a leader of our team, just to get that guy back at this point in time out there with the group. I think it’s, for the younger guys, it’s cool to see how veterans work and cool for them to have one of their leaders back out there and everybody feels that energy that Jimmie brings for us,” Ryans said.
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.
With both practicing in full, the duo could see the field in Week 5 at Carolina. We’ll have to see how Friday’s practice shakes out.
More of Jimmie Ward as well, man is it great seeing him and Verrett back with the team🥲 pic.twitter.com/oEar5NIHbP
— Amiliano “Amil” Fragoso (@AmilianoFragoso) October 6, 2022
A lot of chatter has been had about Ryans’ coaching ability since taking the defensive coordinator job over last season. Some have even called for him to be a head coach. But that’s just noise to the former linebacker, who is always focused on his players, than his own accolades.
“Everything we do is never about me. And what I do is always about the players and what they’re able to execute,” Ryans said. “That’s the story. It’s not about DeMeco at all. It’s all about the players and what they’re able to do.”
Take for example defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. The third-year lineman out of South Carolina has experienced some irritation in his surgically repaired knee the past week, forcing him to sit out Monday Night’s win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Kinlaw went through a pregame workout to determine if he could play in Week 4. After a long talk with Ryans and the coaching staff, the big man walked back to the locker room with his head down. He was ruled out for the contest.
That decision goes hand-in-hand with Ryans’s mindset: Person first, player second.
“I think with any player, as I talk to players, it’s always about the player first to me. And it’s not about pushing guys out when they’re not ready to go, because I care too much about the men and not just the player,” Ryans explained.
He knows firsthand what it’s like to play hurt because he was once a defensive player himself, using his own life lessons to help foster the next generation.
Javon Kinlaw says his knee isn't in pain and that his current time away — he missed Rams game and first 2 practices of this week — is all part of the longer recovery process from his ACL surgery. Lot of fluid buildup in the knee
Sounds like he'll be back sooner rather than later
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 6, 2022
“For sure. As players, that’s what makes you a good player because you have that warrior mindset that you can always go out and I’m going to be good. I’m tough, I’m okay, but someone has to pull you back and let you know when that time is not quite right. And I just expect that from everybody who’s in this position as coaches that we always put the men first and it’s not just about players, it’s about these guys as men and their livelihoods,” he continued.
