How The Kansas City Chiefs Have Tried To Replace Charvarius Ward

A juicy revenge matchup may not happen.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward did not practice Wednesday because of a groin injury suffered during last week’s game. That injury could potentially prevent him from facing his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Sunday.

Instead of paying Ward a salary similar to the three-year, $40 million deal he signed with the 49ers during the offseason, the Chiefs opted to go with several rookies.

“They didn’t have the bag,” he said. “They wanted me to stay.”

Ward is slated to earn $13.5 million this year, which is about $3.3 million more than the combined 2022 salaries for the three rookies the Chiefs drafted to help replace him at cornerback.

Part of the “Fab Five” — as dubbed by defensive backs coach Dave Merritt — rookie class of defensive backs, cornerbacks Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson are slated to make $8.061 million, $1.371 million and $790, 372, respectively, this year.

The 49ers, though, are happy with their return on their significant investment.

Ward is tied for third in the NFL with eight passes defended. And in his last full game, he allowed just one reception for 32 yards and forced four tight windows on six targets, according to Zebra TechnologiesZBRA
, in the 49ers’ 37-15 victory against the Carolina Panthers.

Going into Week Six, in which Ward left with the groin injury, he had forced the highest tight window target rate (36.7%) since entering the NFL in 2018 (minimum 200 targets).

Though the Chiefs have allowed the sixth most passing yards, their rookies on the back end have flashed potential and held up fairly well, especially considering the highest-drafted one, McDuffie, has been out since Week One, though he likely will return this weekend.

“The young guys are doing some good things,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. “Their experience will benefit us down the road. Jaylen Watson again is continuing to grow back there.”

But while they continue to mature — CBS announcer Tony Romo pointed out during last week’s telecast — the Chiefs have struggled to contain an opponent’s No. 1 wide receiver.

The Chiefs allowed Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs to have a game-high 10 catches and 148 yards and a touchdown, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams to have a game-high 124 yards and two touchdowns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans to have a game-high 103 yards and two touchdowns and Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams to have a game-high 113 yards and a touchdown.

Obviously, No. 1 receivers are No. 1 for a reason. So one would expect them to do well, but it also may indicate the Chiefs lack a true shutdown corner.

Ward has served as the 49ers’ de facto No. 1 cornerback, following a four-year career with the Chiefs, in which he started 43 games.

After 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley tore his ACL, Ward’s role will only carry more significance.

“I always wanted to take on that challenge of being a CB1,” Ward said. “With E Man out, I’m definitely CB1 now.”

It’s been quite a success story for Ward, who has gone from Hinds (Miss.) Community College player to undrafted free agent to $40-million man.

Former Middle Tennessee State defensive backs coach Steve Ellis, now the cornerbacks coach at East Carolina, played a major role in that journey.

He recruited him to MTSU and remains close to the cornerback. Ellis said Ward told him how much he enjoys playing for his new defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans.

“He allows me to be play free. He allows me to be myself on the field,” Ward said, “be aggressive, play man to man.”

Ward has fit in well on his new team and in his new environs.

His path has taken him from McComb, Miss., a town of about 12,000 people, to the Bay Area.

It’s helped that 49ers have a definite Mississippi presence, including from perhaps their best player of all time, Jerry Rice, who hailed from Starkville, Miss.

“He’s really a trailblazer for every young man in the state of Mississippi,” Ellis said.

Along with Charvarius, the 49ers have a Tarvarius from Mississippi. Defensive back Tarvarius Moore from Quitman, Miss., intercepted Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIV.

Ward started that Super Bowl on the opposite team, demonstrating his impressive ascension, following a limited high school career, where he skipped his sophomore year.

He might be a $40-million man, but he still remembers the lack of Division-I scholarship offers out of high school, not getting invited to the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine and going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft.

“That chip lives on my shoulder,” Ward said.