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SANTA CLARA — All-too-familiar news of a Jimmie Ward injury was offset Thursday by the upbeat prognosis for Nick Bosa, who looks cleared for his 49ers debut in Sunday’s opener at Tampa Bay.
A broken finger kept Ward out of practice and cast in doubt his availability to serve as the starting free safety and potential nickel back.
“They’re still trying to ascertain and get a hold on this thing and talking to specialists to see if he can play through it,” general manager John Lynch said on KNBR 680-AM. “Fortunately it’s not a huge deal. I know Jimmie will want to play but it’s a question whether we can put him out there.”
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said Ward’s injury “doesn’t do much” to alter the 49ers’ plans, noting that training camp star Tarvarius Moore “has shown he can go out and play” free safety. K’Waun Williams should be back from a knee injury to resume his role at nickel back, otherwise Emmanuel Moseley, D.J. Reed and Antone Exum can fill in there.
Ward has been a victim of “bad luck,” Saleh insisted, over a career hindered by at least six fractures and multiple soft-tissue injuries since 2014, when Ward was selected in the first round. Despite Ward’s injury history, the 49ers opted against adding other veteran safeties in free agency.
“Sometimes people overanalyze and overreach with football injuries,” cornerback Richard Sherman said. “This is football. It’s a sport. It’s not somebody dying. Unfortunately he broke his finger but he’ll be fine.”
BOSA LOOKING SPRY
Bosa, this year’s first-round draft pick, got his 49ers career off to a similarly concerning start with a hamstring strain in the spring and an Aug. 7 ankle injury. However, his body has responded well in practice this week, and his mind is envisioning a grand debut.
“Whenever I think about third down in the game, I get excited, already,” Bosa said. “It’ll build up toward game day, I’m sure. I’ll be able to keep my emotions in check but it’ll be a lot for the first time.”
Even during the three weeks of practice he missed while hurt, Bosa was preparing for the Buccaneers by watching film of quarterback Jameis Winson and offensive tackles Demar Dotson and Donovan Smith.
Lynch envisions Bosa being a factor on more than third downs, stating: “We want him out there on every down. Every D-lineman loves third down because that’s where they make their money. One of the reasons we were attracted to nick bosa is because he’s good on every down.
“Nick will be out there throughout our game. It was very important for him to be out there his first game. The good news it’s real, we’re not forcing it.”
As a Florida native, Bosa said his teammates need to make sure they hydrate to combat the heat, and not pour water on themselves, “because if you do, you’ll get soggy shoes.”
WIDE RECEIVER ROTATION
Trent Taylor (foot) and Jalen Hurd (back) remained out of practice, leaving five wide receivers who all might be active, and if they are, they will also be rotated into the mix, coach Kyle Shanahan has said.
Dante Pettis and Marquise Goodwin figure to start, and Pettis was a full participant Thursday after being limited the previous day by a groin issue. Deebo Samuel, Kendrick Bourne and Richie James are the other healthy wideouts.
SHERMAN VS. EVANS
Cornerback Richard Sherman is ready for a rematch with Mike Evans, whose big-play ability showed up with a 34-yard catch in last November’s 27-9 Bucs win. “He’s always been a great challenge and I look forward to it,” Sherman said. “Jameis knows where to find him. … He’d fit well in any offense, but I’m sure Bruce will give it to him in spots, with the deep ball and across the middle.”
VERRETT’S CHANCES
Jason Verrett, like Bosa, is practicing well after missing three weeks with an ankle sprain. If he’s not starting in place of Ahkello Witherspoon, it’s fair to wonder whether Verrett would be active and thus healthy enough to play special teams. “He looks good and I know he wants to get back bad,” Saleh said. “… Right before he got hurt (Aug. 7), he showed a couple of plays where, God, he was close (to full health).”
SCOUTING BUCS
Just what will Saleh’s defenders encounter against Bruce Arians’ offense, a scheme the 49ers encountered often in Arians’ tenure with the Arizona Cardinals? Saleh figures to rotate his defensive linemen amid Tampa’s 100-degree heat, in order to “keep them fresh so we can keep coming at them, because it is a grueling game the style that Bruce and his staff play with the run game and the way they lean on you.”
Said Sherman: “I expect to see a lot of deep shots, deep developing routes, crunch football, a little bit of power. I expect deep shots and to take shots. Bruce gets a lot of yards with a lot of deep shots. He tests the defense, in general.”
