WEBVTT - 1st & 10: A Deep Dive into the 49ers Cornerbacks Room

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<v Speaker 1>Hello, and welcome back to the forty nine Ers First

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<v Speaker 1>and ten podcast, ten minutes of the most up to

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<v Speaker 1>date forty nine Ers news First thing in the morning,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm your host Brianna McDonald. Joining me is forty nine

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<v Speaker 1>Ers team reporter Lindsey Palaries. Before we get into today's

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<v Speaker 1>roster breakdown, we have some initial news. The forty nine

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<v Speaker 1>Ers announced yesterday that wide receiver Ricky Piersol has been

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<v Speaker 1>placed on the non football injury list. This update comes

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<v Speaker 1>in just nine days ahead of training camp. Now, in

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<v Speaker 1>this episode, we are continuing our roster breakdown series leading

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<v Speaker 1>into training camp, and today we're taking a closer look

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<v Speaker 1>at the forty nine Ers cornerbacks group. In our last episode,

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<v Speaker 1>we provided some updates on the defensive line, so be

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<v Speaker 1>sure to check that out if you haven't already. But

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<v Speaker 1>as we get into the secondary, our CB room has

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<v Speaker 1>gone through quite a few changes and addition over the

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<v Speaker 1>off season. Lindsay, let's start with this year's draft and

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<v Speaker 1>second round draft pick, Rinardo Green. Tell us more about

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<v Speaker 1>the Niners' newest cornerback. What did you learn about him

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<v Speaker 1>in your brief chat with him, and what does he

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<v Speaker 1>bring to the team this year?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, So I wanted to first highlight that with that

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<v Speaker 2>first wave of free agent additions, the forty nine ers

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<v Speaker 2>really zeroed in on their defensive front, and in that

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<v Speaker 2>same way, that second wave of additions was very much

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<v Speaker 2>focused on the secondary, particularly at the cornerback position. Ronardo

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<v Speaker 2>Green was a second round pick out of Florida State,

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<v Speaker 2>sixty fourth overall, and this is somebody that the forty

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<v Speaker 2>nine ers are really excited about.

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<v Speaker 3>He's a physical corner.

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<v Speaker 2>Over the course of his five year collegiate career, he's

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<v Speaker 2>played in a lot of different positions, so he's got

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<v Speaker 2>some experience at nickelback, playing on the outside, and then

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<v Speaker 2>also even some reps at safety. So definitely a guy

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<v Speaker 2>that has shown he can move all around the secondary.

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<v Speaker 2>I think he definitely flashed during the offseason workout program.

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<v Speaker 2>That's something the Niners are really excited about to see someone.

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<v Speaker 3>With a really great work ethic and just being.

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<v Speaker 2>A young player really just hit the ground running in

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<v Speaker 2>his professional career. When I was able to speak to

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<v Speaker 2>him one on one right after he was drafted, like

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<v Speaker 2>minutes after the call with the ownership and Kyle Shanahan

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<v Speaker 2>and John Lynch, he really talked about how he thought

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<v Speaker 2>his instincts, his football instincts and his athleticism were his

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<v Speaker 2>greatest strength. He's happy to bring that to the team,

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<v Speaker 2>and I think he's definitely an option for the forty

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<v Speaker 2>nine ers at nickelback, which is where they definitely need

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<v Speaker 2>help for that third cornerback spot. Giamad Or Lendor was

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<v Speaker 2>filling in at nickelback for a lot of last season.

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<v Speaker 2>So this, along with many other editions in the quarterback

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<v Speaker 2>room which we'll get to give them some depth and

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<v Speaker 2>also just some options at that spot.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, Rinardo Green isn't the only new faces joining the

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<v Speaker 1>group this year. The forty nine ers are also welcoming

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<v Speaker 1>three experienced free agents in Chase Lucas from the Detroit Lions,

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<v Speaker 1>Isaac Yadam from the New Orleans Saints, and Rocky Scene

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<v Speaker 1>from the Baltimore Ravens. Lindsey tell us more about why

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<v Speaker 1>the forty nine ers decided to pick up three experienced

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<v Speaker 1>cornerbacks and free agency this offseason.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think it was a little bit of what

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<v Speaker 2>I mentioned when we were talking about Green just a

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<v Speaker 2>second ago, is that the forty nine Ers just needed

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<v Speaker 2>some depth at cornerback right that number three spot. Definitely

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<v Speaker 2>up for grabs. We saw Ambry Thomas playing off the

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<v Speaker 2>outside last season along with Tarvarius Ward, and then you

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<v Speaker 2>had Diamadore Lenore playing at nickelback. I think when you

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<v Speaker 2>add Isaac Yadam rok Ya scene Chase Lucas, you've got

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<v Speaker 2>some veteran options that can be there to play in

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<v Speaker 2>that play outside and then put Diamadour Lenhur in that

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<v Speaker 2>nickelback position, or if you have Ronaldo Green you could

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<v Speaker 2>plug him at the nickelback position. It just gives you

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<v Speaker 2>options entering twenty twenty four, and that's something that the

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<v Speaker 2>forty nine ers definitely needed.

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<v Speaker 3>Also with those three, you have some veteran experience.

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<v Speaker 2>I think with Chase Lucas, he was mostly a special

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<v Speaker 2>teams guy for the Detroit Lions, but again he is

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<v Speaker 2>listed as a cornerback and has time in the league,

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<v Speaker 2>so still valuable experience that he brings. Isaac Yadham, I

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<v Speaker 2>think is a very interesting addition because his best season

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<v Speaker 2>was twenty twenty three. He really took off for the

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<v Speaker 2>Saints after filling in for an injured player midway through

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<v Speaker 2>the season, and he only gave up three touchdowns on

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<v Speaker 2>five hundred and fifteen snaps very impressive, and even though

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<v Speaker 2>only had eight starts last year, fourteen PBUs that's tied

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<v Speaker 2>for seventh in the league. Very very impressive. And then

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<v Speaker 2>Rokyastein was dealing with a knee injury last year. But again,

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<v Speaker 2>just a veteran player that was with the Ravens that

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<v Speaker 2>had a very strong defense and a good addition for

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<v Speaker 2>the forty nine Ers.

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<v Speaker 1>Now that we've gotten to know a little bit more

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<v Speaker 1>about our new guys, let's cover our returners. Which players

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<v Speaker 1>will be back in the bay for the forty nine

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<v Speaker 1>ers defense this year.

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<v Speaker 2>Yep. So in terms of cornerbacks, we do have a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of younger returners. So we've got Durrell Ludor Junior

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<v Speaker 2>entering his second season, Samuel Willmack the third who is

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<v Speaker 2>a twenty twenty one draft pick, Ambry Thomas entering his

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<v Speaker 2>fourth season, Keimon Hall in his sixth season, and Charvarius Ward,

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<v Speaker 2>who is a true CB one entering his seventh season.

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<v Speaker 2>I would consider him the veteran leader of that group.

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<v Speaker 2>But then, like I mentioned, you've also got Diamador Lenore

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<v Speaker 2>who played a lot of nickelback in twenty twenty four.

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<v Speaker 2>He's entering his fourth season, and I feel like, really

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<v Speaker 2>since the end of his sophomore season, it's just been

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<v Speaker 2>a complete upward trajectory for Lenore. Really physical player, just

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<v Speaker 2>super enthusiastic.

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<v Speaker 3>Passion out on the field.

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<v Speaker 2>So I think, you know, between him and Charvarius Ward,

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<v Speaker 2>you've got your top two CBS.

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<v Speaker 1>Nice Now, Traviius Ward plays a crucial role in the

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<v Speaker 1>forty nine or secondary. He's established himself as a cornerstone

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<v Speaker 1>of our defense. He led the league and passes defended

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<v Speaker 1>last season and earned Pro Bowl and AP second team

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<v Speaker 1>All Pro recognition. As we head into this new twenty

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<v Speaker 1>twenty four season, Pro Football Focus recognized Traverius Ward as

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<v Speaker 1>one of the top three cornerbacks in the entire NFL.

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<v Speaker 1>There analyst John Kesco wrote that War deserves more praise

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<v Speaker 1>as one of the league's best corners. So, Lindsay, I'm

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<v Speaker 1>just curious what your take is.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean, I really think he was such a

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<v Speaker 2>lockdown corner for the forty nine ers in twenty twenty three.

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<v Speaker 2>I think, you know, obviously great displays, all the interceptions

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<v Speaker 2>he had last year, but I always think of how

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<v Speaker 2>he locked down DK metcalf in that Thanksgiving game against

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<v Speaker 2>the Seahawks, and I feel like there's like no real

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<v Speaker 2>better example of a true CB one that you want

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<v Speaker 2>covering one of the best wide receivers in the league

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<v Speaker 2>and absolutely like allowing him to not do very much

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<v Speaker 2>in that game.

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<v Speaker 3>And it was just a string of games like that.

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<v Speaker 2>For Tarvarius Ward in twenty twenty three, and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I think he's someone that the younger guys really want

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<v Speaker 2>to learn from. Ernardo Green in that very first you know,

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<v Speaker 2>post draft interview I did with him, He's like, I

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<v Speaker 2>watch cutups of Charvarius Ward. So I think when you've

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<v Speaker 2>got young guys that are enthusiastic about learning from a

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<v Speaker 2>tried and too true veteran like that, I mean, only

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<v Speaker 2>good is going to come of that.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, definitely. Now, as we quickly approach training camp, what

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<v Speaker 1>are the key storylines or position battles that you're watching

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<v Speaker 1>closely within the cornerback group.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, so I think it's for that that third cornerback position. Right,

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<v Speaker 2>you had diamidor Lenore, who can play both at nickelback

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<v Speaker 2>and outside really take one for the team and play

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<v Speaker 2>at that nickelback position in twenty twenty three. So I

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<v Speaker 2>think ideally if you get somebody like Bernardo Green that

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<v Speaker 2>ends up being ready to play that nickelback position, then

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<v Speaker 2>you can put diamidor Lenore on the outside, or you

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<v Speaker 2>find an Isaac Gaham who can play on the outside,

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<v Speaker 2>plug in diamidor Lenore again at the nickelback position. I

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<v Speaker 2>think it just depends playing on the strengths of the

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<v Speaker 2>new talent that you've got in the building, seeing where

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<v Speaker 2>the pieces fit. So not necessarily a position battle, but

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<v Speaker 2>more of like where can we have the most successful fits.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, now, going into camp again, are there any injury

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<v Speaker 1>concerns or recovery updates from players that fans should be

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<v Speaker 1>aware of heading into training camp.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah. We talked a little bit about Charvarius Ward, who

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<v Speaker 2>is dealing with a core muscle injury.

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<v Speaker 3>He had surgery in the off season for it.

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<v Speaker 2>From everything we've heard directly from him over the course

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<v Speaker 2>of the off season workout program, he feels like he's

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<v Speaker 2>going to be on track to be ready for training camp. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 2>with injuries, you never like want to feel so stuck

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<v Speaker 2>on timelines because things happen right it's just the natural

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<v Speaker 2>recovery process. But barring any setbacks, it sounds like he

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<v Speaker 2>will be ready for training camp.

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<v Speaker 3>That's obviously what you.

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<v Speaker 2>Want, but we're just a few days out from training camp,

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<v Speaker 2>which is crazy.

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<v Speaker 3>So we'll have more.

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<v Speaker 2>Clarity on that as soon as players report, which is

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<v Speaker 2>also coming up Tuesday, very very soon, so we'll hear

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<v Speaker 2>more from them. I think that's probably the most significant

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<v Speaker 2>injury to the cornerback room that I would keep an

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<v Speaker 2>eye on.

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<v Speaker 1>All right, thank you, Lindsey, but faithful that will do

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<v Speaker 1>it for today. Look out for more forty nine Ers

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<v Speaker 1>roster breakdown episodes leading up to training camp on first

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<v Speaker 1>and ten. Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to

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<v Speaker 1>be in the know on all of the latest official

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<v Speaker 1>forty nine ers news. Also turn on the notifications for

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<v Speaker 1>any breaking news, move the chains updates, and thank you

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<v Speaker 1>for tuning in.