San Francisco 49ers safety Jimmie Ward has broken his collarbone.
According to NFL.com national insider Ian Rapoport, Ward fractured his collarbone on May 23. The timetable for Ward's return isn't certain at this point.
#49ers S Jimmie Ward did, in fact, fracture his collarbone, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. Out for the rest of the spring, though his exact timetable is not yet clear.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 23, 2019
Ward injured his collarbone when he dived for a loose ball during OTAs on Thursday, per NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo.
#49ers S Jimmie Ward suffered a shoulder injury while diving for a ball in OTAs today and the fear is he broke his collarbone, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Ward headed for X-rays and a full evaluation.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 23, 2019
This is the fourth time in the past five years the 49ers have placed Ward on injured reserve, per NBC Sports Bay Area's Brian Witt.
The Mayo Clinic's official website (via NFL.com's Herbie Teope) says a fractured collabrone takes roughly six to 16 weeks to heal.
That means there's a chance Ward will miss the 49ers' training camp in late July. He can use the months leading up to the regular season opener in September to recover from his injury.
It happened again.
Source: 49ers safety Jimmie Ward suffers collarbone injury during OTAshttps://t.co/YlvziE0IVX pic.twitter.com/uRPczWMgO1
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) May 23, 2019
Ward signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with San Francisco in March. According to Pro Football Focus (via NinersNation.com), he gave up four touchdowns last season. He gave up two of those to the Kansas City Chiefs. He allowed the other two against the New York Giants.
The 49ers made Ward the 30th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Northern Illinois. He has recorded two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 51 career games with San Francisco.