49ers Exercise Fifth-year Option on DB Jimmie Ward

The San Francisco 49ers announced that they have exercised the fifth-year option on DB Jimmie Ward for the 2018 season. The 49ers originally selected Ward (5-11, 193) in the first round (30th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. Ward has appeared in 35 games (18 starts) throughout his three-year career, tallying 117 tackles, 19 passes defensed, 2.0 sacks and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). In 2016, he* *started a career-high 10 out of 11 games played on the season and registered 64 tackles, one interception and a career-high 12 passes defensed, and also picked up his first career forced fumble and fumble recovery on special teams. A 25-year old native of Mobile, AL, Ward attended the University of Northern Illinois. In 55 games (39 starts) over four seasons with the Huskies, he finished with 320 tackles, 26 passes defensed, 11 interceptions, four forced fumbles, two sacks, one fumble recovery and four blocked kicks.