SEATTLE – Richard Sherman has chimed in after another marquee matchup pitting the 49ers at the Seahawks.
The target of his words: 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward.
Sherman showered Ward with praise and included video evidence in a social media post stemming from the 49ers’ 31-13 win Thursday night.
“The pedal and break on that quick out is clinical!” Sherman wrote on Twitter/X. “(Ward) took the assignment and shined! One of the best playing right now.”
Sherman, now an Amazon Prime analyst, established himself as one of the NFL’s all-time best while playing for the Seahawks and the 49ers, the latter of whom he enjoyed beating in the 2013 season’s NFC Championship Game in Seattle.
Ward, standing Thursday night in Lumen Field’s cramped locker room, had a wide smile as he relished the marquee outing of what’s become a Pro Bowl-caliber season.
“I thought he was unbelievable,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I’m excited to watch (game film) on the plane. But he’s been pretty consistent coming here. I thought he had an unbelievable game here last year up here. Seemed very similar today.”
Ward, like last December’s victorious visit, shadowed D.K. Metcalf, the Seahawks’ physically imposing receiver who caught only 3-of-9 targets for 32 yards.
Just prior to the game, Ward learned that Shanahan needed him following Metcalf, “so they told me to do it, and I was up to the task,” Ward said. “I felt like I had a pretty good game.”
Ward broke up three passes in the process and nearly had a first-series interception.
“He didn’t hesitate. He was up for the challenge,” Shanahan added. “He’s been up for it throughout last year, as you guys could see. He was up for it today.”
Ward’s three pass breakups raised his total to 16 this season, one shy of the NFL lead held by the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Darious Williams.
Ward briefly exited with cramps in his lower right leg, and but he was determined to return to Thursday night’s game to help halt the Seahawks’ comeback bid. “I knew we had to finish it off. It wasn’t over yet. I’m glad I was able to get back out there.”
Next, the 49ers (8-3) get back to Philadelphia, where they’ll try to wrestle control of the NFC playoff chase away from the Eagles (9-1). It’s a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game, which the 49ers lost 31-7 while allowing just 121 passing yards to Jalen Hurts.
Thursday night, the 49ers’ six-sack pass rush complemented their defensive backs’ coverage.
“It was the all-white uniforms,” Ward said half-jokingly. “Any time we put the all-white uniforms on I feel faster. I just feel good. You feel good, you look good, you play good.
“But no, it was a prime-time game, with the whole world watching,” Ward said. “The lights was on, so it brings a little extra out of you. You know you got to go out there and ball, because the whole world watching. The whole NFL, they’re scanning your abilities as a team. That’s what we went out and did tonight, so the world knows what 49ers football looks like.”