49ers Preseason Injury Roundup: Hamstring Strains Piling Up

Veteran free safety Jimmie Ward suffered a significant hamstring strain that will sideline him indefinitely, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Monday.

Ward will definitely miss Week 1 with the injury, according to the Pro Football Docs.

He is now the fourth starter to suffer a soft-tissue injury over the last week. He joins major free-agent cornerback Charvarius Ward (groin), No. 2 corner Emmanuel Moseley (hamstring) and running back Elijah Mitchell.

Groin and hamstring injuries suffered this late in the offseason often bleed into the regular season, according to the Pro Football Docs. Depending on the severity, all four could miss week 1.

Soft tissue injuries are especially problematic for cornerbacks and safeties, who have to stop-and-start, backpedal, and accelerate almost every play, creating a greater risk for aggravation. 

Moseley is reportedly expected to return to practice this week, but soft tissue injuries always come with the risk of reaggravation.

San Francisco has made adding depth and versatility in the secondary a major focus in recent years. 

The 49ers drafted cornerbacks Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir in 2021 and added preseason star Samuel Womack and Tariq Castro-Fields on days 2 and 3 in the 2022 Draft.