Cornerback Charvarius Ward has been arguably the most impressive player in Niners camp, but he won’t be turning heads for the next few weeks.
Kyle Shanahan said on KNBR Wednesday that the free agent signing is dealing with a groin strain that isn’t considered serious, but will keep him out for a bit.
“[Ward] had a little setback here with a muscle strain, so he’ll be out here for the next probably two weeks or so,” Shanahan said. “But he’s gotten enough baseline in to where his camp has been perfect. At least now I know he’s not going to get a serious injury here in the next two weeks, and he’ll be ready to go here Week 1.”
The 49ers are now currently without both starting cornerbacks, as Emmanuel Moseley is currently going through physical therapy with a hamstring injury. The team also doesn’t seem concerned about that and expects Moseley to also be ready for Week 1.
Still, with both players currently out, the 49ers signed a cornerback on Wednesday, six-year veteran Ken Crawley who most recently played for the Saints. In order to make room on the roster, the team waived/injured S Leon O’Neal Jr.
Crawley (6-1, 180) originally entered the NFL after signing as an undrafted free agent with New Orleans on May 6, 2016. Throughout his NFL career with the Saints (2016-19, 2020-2021) and Miami Dolphins (2019), he has appeared in 55 games (25 starts) and registered 138 tackles, 32 passes defensed, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He has also appeared in three postseason contests (two starts), where he tallied 13 tackles and one pass defensed. Crawley appeared in six games and finished with three tackles with the Saints in 2021.
A 29-year-old native of Washington D.C., Crawley attended the University of Colorado where he appeared in 47 games (44 starts) and registered 189 tackles, 29 passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
O’Neal Jr. (6-1, 210) signed with the team as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022.
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