GLENDALE, Ariz. – Charvarius Ward hadn’t scored a touchdown since his pee-wee football days playing quarterback for the Wolves in McComb, Mississippi.
He’d intercepted two in this breakout season with the 49ers, and he’d knocked away an NFL-best 20 passes entering Sunday’s game. But he wanted to be the first 49ers’ defender to score this season.
About 10 minutes into the game and with the score tied, Ward snagged Kyler Murray’s fourth-down pass and returned it 66 yards for a go-ahead touchdown in a 45-29, division-clinching victory.
“I had a big smile on my face probably the whole first half after that touchdown,” Ward said.
But wasn’t done smiling or intercepting passes. He picked off Murray again with just over six minutes remaining, making for Ward’s first career game with two interceptions.
“It’s like they stick to his hands now,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s cool he (scored) on the first one and hopefully there are plenty more now.”
Ward credited two things for his two interceptions: 1. Fresh legs, after only playing four snaps in the previous Sunday’s win over Seattle because of a slight groin injury; 2. Extra work with Sam Darnold, the 49ers’ hard-throwing backup quarterback.
“It’s different when a quarterback is throwing the ball to you, rather than your coach. It’s a different spin on it,” Ward said. “I caught some balls from Sam Darnold and I’m probably going to do it every week now.”
Ward, who came to the 49ers last season as a free agent from the Chiefs, entered this season hoping to gain All-Pro and Pro Bowl acclaim.
“He’s playing at an All-Pro level,” Nick Bosa said. “He had two (interceptions) today? The stats don’t always tell the whole story. But I’m very happy he got that. He deserves it. He’s a top corner in the league, no doubt.”
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel said he predicted Ward’s big day: “Man, it’s so crazy, right before the game I told him, ‘It’s time you get a pick. I’m tired of seeing (pass breakups), and you’ll take one 90 yards.’ ”
The 49ers were in a Cover-3 defense, and once tight end Trey McBride stopped to give Kyler Murray a target, Ward raced in for the fourth-and-3 throw.
“I just drove on it, Kyler threw it kind of late and I didn’t break stride,” Ward said. “As soon as I caught it, I saw nothing but the end zone.”
Added Shanahan: “He has not hesitated on anything. He’s running through the ball. He’s getting his hands up, which is the first step, and he’s knocking balls down, which he does as good as anybody on the planet right now.”
Even though Shanahan considered Ward a longshot to play this game, Ward said he “knew all along” he’d be cleared to go and just needed to take two days off from practice to get his legs fresh.
“A lot of people told me to rest because they thought the Cardinals were a lesser opponent, but I didn’t think about it like that,” Ward said. “They’re a division opponent and they were going to play us hard, so I had to come out here and do my thing.”
The cornerback corps did emerge with another injury concern, however. Starter Deommodore Lenoir sustained a rib injury, which Shanahan believes happened when Lenoir got stepped on late in the game.
In the closing minutes, the 49ers pulled their defensive starters, and their three-cornerback crew featured Darrell Luter Jr., Sam Womack and Isaiah Oliver, with Logan Ryan and Ji’Ayir Brown at safety.