Ward had eight tackles in Sunday's 37-17 win over the Jaguars in Week 3.
Ward, a team captain that missed the first two weeks with a hip injury, helped stabilize a defense that was missing Jalen Pitre (chest) and Derek Stingley (hamstring). One noticeable area of improvement was in third-down percentage, with Houston limiting Jacksonville to just five of 13 third-down conversions.
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Texans' Jimmie Ward: Gets in full practice
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Ward (hip) was a full participant at practice Thursday.
After he missed both of Houston's first two games, it looks like Ward will be available to suit up for Week 3. He figures to start at safety at Jacksonville.
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Texans' Jimmie Ward: Not playing Week 2
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The Texans ruled out Ward (hip) for Sunday's game against the Colts.
Ward already missed the team's Week 1 loss to Baltimore and will now have to wait at least another week before making his debut with the Texans. With Jalen Pitre (chest) also ruled out, Houston will be without both starting safeties, and M.J. Stewart and Eric Murray will likely start instead.
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Texans' Jimmie Ward: Still sidelined
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Ward (hip) is not practicing Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Ward was unable to suit up Week 1 against the Ravens and appears to still not be ready to take the field. The veteran safety will likely need to return to practice Thursday if he's going to suit up against the Colts on Sunday. However, if he's unable to, Eric Murray should get the start at strong safety again.
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Texans' Jimmie Ward: Ruled out for Week 1
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Ward (hip) has been ruled out for Sunday's season opener against the Ravens, Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Ward was previously deemed day-to-day with a groin injury, but the team's injury report lists him as out with a hip injury. The veteran safety, who followed head coach DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco to Houston in the offseason, will get his next opportunity to make his Texans debut in Week 2 against the Colts.
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Texans' Jimmie Ward: Day-to-day with groin injury
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Ward (groin) is considered day-to-day prior to the Texans' Week 1 matchup with the Ravens on Sunday, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Ward did not practice Wednesday as he continues to nurse a groin injury that has been bothering him this past week. The safety still has two more chances to return to practice ahead of Houston's regular-season opener with Baltimore.
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Texans' Jimmie Ward: Following Ryans to Houston
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Ward agreed to a contract with the Texans on Monday, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.
Ward's deal won't become official until the new league year begins Wednesday, and the exact terms have yet to be disclosed. The veteran safety spent his first nine seasons in San Francisco, racking up 200 tackles over the past three campaigns. Ward will reunite with DeMeco Ryans, who will serve as Houston's head coach after spending the previous two seasons as the 49ers' defensive coordinator.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Productive in victory
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Ward notched eight tackles (six solo), a pass defensed and forced a fumble in Sunday's 35-7 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Ward's eight stops were his highest on the season, as were his 68 defensive snaps. The veteran safety has had an up and down year, including missing multiple weeks due to a broken hand. He'll work to fill the stat sheet again Thursday against the Seahawks.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Undergoes successful surgery
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Ward underwent successful surgery on his left hand Tuesday and will be evaluated in 10 days, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Ward broke his left hand during the team's win over the Panthers in Week 6 and will be sidelined for multiple weeks, though it's unclear if he'll land on IR. Per Wagoner, following his surgery Tuesday, Ward was fitted for a cast that the team hopes will allow him to return to game action after just a few weeks, but he won't be evaluated again for 10 days.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Will undergo surgery Tuesday
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Ward will have a surgery to repair a broken left hand Tuesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
San Francisco will wait until that surgery is complete to project a timeline for Ward's return. He could potentially play in a cast, but Tashaun Gipson will continue to start in Ward's absence until the veteran safety is ready to play again.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Will not return
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Ward (hand) will not return Sunday against the Panthers, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Ward suffered the injury in the first quarter and had not tallied any stats before exiting. In his absence, Tashaun Gipson should handle free-safety duties.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: May miss season opener
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Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Ward suffered a "pretty bad" hamstring injury during Sunday's practice and there's a chance he'll miss Week 1 of the regular season, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
This is a tough break for Ward, who's coming off his best statistical season of his career. His increased production was likely a product of his ability to stay on the field for 16 games after periodically being sidelined by injuries to start his career. If he's forced to miss regular-season contests, expect Tarvarius Moore to step into an expanded role to start the season.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Activated by San Francisco
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The 49ers activated Ward (illness) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday.
Ward landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday after he tested positive for the virus. However, he'll now be cleared to rejoin the team and will be available for Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Rams.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Ready to play Monday
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Ward (quadriceps) is active for Monday's game against the Rams.
Ward missed last week's loss to the Cardinals and was questionable for Monday Night Football, but he's been cleared to take the field. The 30-year-old should reclaim his starting role at free safety for the 49ers.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Will not play Sunday
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Ward (quadriceps) will not play Sunday against Arizona, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Ward picked up the injury Sunday against the Bears, but it was originally thought he might be able to play in Week 9. This is a big blow to a 49ers secondary that is already missing multiple pieces. Tavon Wilson will likely see a large increase in snaps while Ward is on the shelf.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Clear of concussion for Week 17
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Ward (concussion) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against Seattle, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
Ward sustained his concussion during a Week 15 loss to the Cowboys, and he was deemed unavailable last Sunday as San Francisco upset Arizona on the road. A trio of full practices from Ward this week indicated he was in line for his 14th start of the season against Seattle. Now, the 29-year-old's return remains imminent as San Francisco's secondary prepares for a matchup against Russell Wilson and a a strong Seattle passing attack.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Practices without limitations
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Ward (concussion) was a full participant at Wednesday's practice, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
It's unclear if Ward has cleared the league's five-step concussion protocol. He's certainly on the right track for Sunday's game against the Seahawks after Wednesday's full practice. If the 29-year-old can, indeed, play, he'll return to a starting role at free safety. Ward will look to add to the career-high 69 tackles he's accumulated through 13 games.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Sits out practice Wednesday
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Ward (concussion) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice.
Ward is in the league's five-step concussion protocol. The 29-year-old has one more practice to get on the field, but he's trending in the wrong direction for Saturday's game versus the Cardinals. If Ward's in fact out, expect Tarvarius Moore (knee) to slot in as the 49ers' starting free safety.
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Back in action Week 8
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Ward (quadriceps) is active for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
The 29-year-old missed Week 7 with the quadriceps injury and was questionable for this week, but he's good to go for Sunday's divisional matchup. Ward will reclaim the starting spot at free safety, while Marcell Harris or Tarvarius Moore fill in at strong safety for Jaquiski Tartt (groin).
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49ers' Jimmie Ward: Upgraded to limited in practice
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Ward (quadriceps) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session, Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee reports.
The 49ers' starting free safety was injured in practice last week and subsequently made unavailable for a Week 7 win over New England, but his upgraded practice status provides optimism for Sunday's matchup against Seattle. Ward has broken up just one pass through six games, though his 32 tackles put him on trajectory to compete with his career high of 65.
