The San Francisco 49ers (9-4) are set to face another rookie quarterback this Sunday as they host the Tennessee Titans (2-11) and their top draft pick, Cam Ward, at Levi”s Stadium.
Defensive end Clelin Ferrell and linebacker Curtis Robinson are gearing up to apply pressure on Ward, who has struggled with being sacked throughout the season. Ward has been taken down 49 times, tying him for the most sacks in the league alongside the Raiders” Geno Smith.
Two months ago, defensive lineman Keion White faced Ward while playing for the New England Patriots. Following the Titans” decision to dismiss head coach Brian Callahan after a disappointing start, White noted that Ward handled the situation with impressive poise. “It”s your rookie year, you”re the No. 1 pick overall, and you have a head coach who they fire. That”s not an easy situation,” White remarked, expressing admiration for Ward”s confidence.
The 49ers, who currently have the fewest sacks in the league, may find a remedy in facing Ward. He tends to hold onto the ball longer than average, contributing to his sack total. According to NextGen Stats, Ward”s average time-to-throw is 2.93 seconds, one of the slowest among NFL quarterbacks.
Ward represents the second consecutive rookie quarterback for the 49ers, with another potential matchup against Riley Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts following a recent injury to Daniel Jones.
Last week, the 49ers showed resilience against the Cleveland Browns and their rookie quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, managing to record three sacks in a decisive 26-8 victory. White highlighted the importance of disguises in the secondary when playing against rookies, stating, “You disguise, make them see different pictures, and actually process the game.” He noted that veteran quarterbacks often see through such tactics, making it more challenging for newcomers.
There is hope for a boost in the 49ers” pass rush with the potential return of defensive ends Sam Okuayinonu and Yetur Gross-Matos. Although Okuayinonu missed last week”s game, he has been studying Ward closely in preparation for this matchup.
Despite injuries to key players like Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, the 49ers” pass rush is looking to improve on their current season total of just 16 sacks. Ferrell and Bryce Huff lead the team with four sacks apiece.
Ward is also coming off a victory against the Browns, where he managed to throw two touchdowns for the first time in his career despite completing only 50% of his passes. Throughout the season, he has achieved a completion rate of 59% across 440 attempts, along with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 74.9, which ranks him 27th in the league.
Looking at his journey, Ward began his collegiate career at Incarnate Word in San Antonio, later transferring to Washington State, and finally moving to Miami, where he led the Hurricanes to a 10-2 record.
Meanwhile, quarterback Kurtis Rourke is eager to rejoin practices after spending his rookie season recovering from an ACL injury. Selected in the seventh round out of Indiana, Rourke is expected to take a redshirt approach this season but is now allowed to practice.
With the 49ers idle last week, they have moved up in the NFC playoff picture, now positioned as the sixth seed, with aspirations for the top seed still within reach. Right tackle Colton McKivitz expressed optimism about the opportunity to secure a bye week, stating, “If we take care of our business, it just gives us an opportunity to get there.” McKivitz spent his Sunday duck hunting while keeping up with NFL action via his phone.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings addressed recent comments from Browns player Shelby Harris regarding trash talk during their previous game, asserting that it was not as severe as implied.
