Jimmie Ward

Jimmie Ward

34-Year-Old SafetyS
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
Questionable
Injury Foot
Est. Return 5/1/2026
2025 Defense Stats
TCKL
0
SACKS
0.0
INT
0
FF
0
TD
0
2026 Projections
TCKL
SACKS
INT
FF
TD
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2025 Fantasy Outlook
Ward's had two injury-marred seasons since joining Houston in 2023, limited to 10 games in each year. When healthy, he's had an impact, like a pick-six in Week 12 of 2024. Ward battled a groin injury and concussion before a foot injury took him out in December. He was up and running this summer but did not participate in OTAs. The 33-year-old can play safety or nickel cornerback and is considered a leader on the field. Read Past Outlooks
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RANKS
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
Height 5'11"
Weight 193
DOB 7/18/1991
College Northern Illinois
Drafted 1st Rd 2014 #30 Overall
Released by the Texans in March of 2026.
Let go by Texans
SFree Agent
Foot
March 3, 2026
The Texans released Ward (foot) on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
Ward didn't play during the 2025 season, as he began the campaign on the Commissioner's Exempt List before moving to the reserve/PUP list due to a foot injury. The 2014 first-round pick is contemplating retirement.
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2025 Jimmie Ward Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Jimmie Ward's measurables compare to other safeties?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 11"
 
Weight
193 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.59 sec
 
Bench Press
9 reps
 
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Ward was limited to 10 games (during which he logged 50 tackles) because of a slew of injuries that nagged him all season. When he wasn't hurt, Ward played well, but he'll be 33-years-old to start the season. If healthy, Ward will start at in the secondary along with returning starters Jalen Pitre (safety) and Derek Stingley (cornerback).
Ward, who turns 32 this season, followed DeMeco Ryans to Houston from San Francisco this offseason. He's maintained a productive career over nine seasons, playing both cornerback and safety. He missed time to start 2022 due to a hamstring issue and later missed a game due to a broken hand. Ward recorded 50 tackles, five passes defensed, three interceptions and one forced fumble over what amounted to 11 games and one snap. He's expected to play strong safety alongside second-year man Jalen Pitre under defensive coordinator Matt Burke.
With Jaquiski Tartt currently unsigned, Ward will become the veteran leader of the 49ers secondary at 31 years of age. The hybrid defensive back primarily stuck in the free safety role last season, setting new career highs in tackles (77) and interceptions (two). With slot extraordinaire K'Waun Williams no longer in town, Ward could see more snaps at the nickel in heavy-box formations. No matter the position he plays, Ward provides a unique mix of contributions across the board to generate some IDP interest.
The veteran safety turned in one of his healthiest campaigns, suiting up for 14 contests and finishing with a career-high 73 tackles. As a coverage safety in a zone-heavy scheme - which is likely to be featured again under new defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans - Ward isn't going to post gaudy tackle totals or record many auxiliary stats - he has just two interceptions and three sacks in seven years as a pro - limiting his ceiling in IDP formats.
The oft-injured Ward got his annual stint on the sidelines out of the way early in 2019, missing the first three contests before returning and posting a career-high 65 tackles (51 solo) to go along with eight passes defended over the final 13 games of the regular season. Previously a cornerback, he's considered one of the best coverage safeties in the league when he's able to stay on the field, and the 49ers are hoping he can repeat his relatively healthy 2019 over the next three years of his new contract.
Ward's story remains the same throughout his young career; an undoubted talent who can play both corner and free safety, but has trouble staying on the field. The 26-year-old has completed a full 16-game season just once through his first five seasons in the NFL. Still, the 49ers will begin another season with Ward slated to serve a prominent role on defense. He will begin the season as the team's starting free safety, but his coverage style of play will lead to lower tackle totals (just 24 tackles over nine games in 2018) than fellow starting safety Jaquiski Tartt.
Ward has become known for his inability to stay on the field, fully completing just one of his four seasons in San Francisco. While his health has hurt his career early on, the 49ers' inability to stick to a plan with the 26-year-old has probably stunted his development as well. Drafted as a safety out of college, Ward was quickly shifted to a cornerback, then moved to the nickel, then back to free safety last season, and now the 49ers have said they are considering giving him reps at corner again. The team restocked its defensive back depth through the draft and free agency this offseason, but Ward figures to have a starting job somewhere in this secondary.
A first-round pick out of Northern Illinois, Ward is a former beloved prospect whose high expectations haven't been met early in his career, though position changes and injury can perhaps be blamed to a considerable extent. Ward played quite a bit of cornerback to this point in his four-year career, limiting his career high in tackles to 57. But Ward is expected to focus on free safety this year, a position he proved dominant at in college. Playing free safety might limit Ward's tackle upside somewhat, but this is a player who intercepted 10 passes in his last two years of college.
Yet another 49ers defender who stands to benefit from the Chip Kelly bump, Ward is a former first-round pick at safety who has yet to stand out in the NFL, but probably has the tools to finally do it in 2016. He'll likely start at corner for San Francisco while moving into the slot in nickel formations, which will give him the chance to defend the run more often than a purely outside corner. Still, Ward is a boom-or-bust IDP consideration due to the speculative nature of his exact role.
Ward was in-and-out of the lineup in 2014, missing eight games due to quad and foot issues. Despite being drafted as a safety, the 49ers used Ward as their nickelback against three-and-four receiver sets. His size (5-foot-10, 193 pounds) was one of the main reasons San Francisco used him at corner rather than safety, and he will likely resume that role in 2015.
Ward was the 49ers' first round pick in 2014, and he figures to line up in three-safety sets and also as a nickel cornerback. While he is undersized (5-10), Ward provides excellent agility and closing speed. He is still recovering from foot surgery this off-season, but he should be ready by the time training camp begins.
More Fantasy News
Slated for release
SFree Agent
Foot
March 2, 2026
The Texans plan to release Ward (foot), Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
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Progressing in recovery
SHouston Texans
Foot
November 3, 2025
Head coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that Ward (foot) could return to practice within a few weeks, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
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Moved to reserve/PUP list
SHouston Texans
Foot
September 22, 2025
The NFL removed Ward (foot) from the Commissioner Exempt List on Monday, and the Texans moved him to the reserve/PUP list in a corresponding move, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Placed on exempt list
SHouston Texans
Foot
August 26, 2025
The Texans placed Ward (undisclosed) on the Commissioner Exempt List on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Awaiting court date
SHouston Texans
Foot
August 7, 2025
Ward (foot) was booked into the Montgomery County jail after being arrested on a warrant Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Considering retirement
SFree Agent
March 2, 2026
Ward may elect to retire rather than sign with another team after being informed Monday he would be released by the Texans, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
The veteran safety missed the entire 2025 season due to foot surgery, and he hasn't played more than 12 games in a season since 2021, so injuries have piled up for the 34-year-old. If he doesn't elect to call it a career, it's hard to say if there will be much of a market for his services, but he did record 48 tackles and two interceptions in 2024, one of which he returned for his third career touchdown.
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