Often sidelined, Tartt returns as safety for 49ers
The tenure of one of the longesttenured 49ers isn’t over, after all.
Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt, a 2015 secondround pick whose extensive injury history suggested he was an unlikely candidate to return in 2021, signed a oneyear deal with the 49ers on Monday. Financial terms were not revealed. Tartt and defensive lineman Arik Armstead are second in tenure behind free safety Jimmie Ward, who was a high school teammate of Tartt’s.
Even Tartt was a bit surprised to be back, given his medical file. Tartt, 29, has missed 28 of 64 games the past four seasons — missing at least four games each year — because of in
juries to his toe, groin, ribs, shoulder and arm. Last season, he played in just seven games because of a groin injury and turf toe, the latter of which required surgery.
“Going into last year, I wanted to finish the season healthy and I didn’t,” Tartt said. “So for me, it was like, ‘I haven’t been the most available player, so maybe they don’t want me back.’ So I’m glad I’m here.”
Tartt’s injuries, combined with the NFL’s economic climate, impacted his ability to land a lucrative longterm deal. Tartt was among three starters in the 49ers’ secondary who remained on the market a week after free agency began with a twoday legal tampering period. The others are cornerback Richard Sherman and slot cornerback K’Waun Williams, who visited the Chiefs on Monday.
The market, of course, isn’t as robust for free agents this season with the salary cap falling nearly $16 million, to $182.5 million, because of lost revenue from the pandemicaltered 2020 season. Many players are electing to sign oneyear contracts, giving them a chance to become free agents again in 2022 when the cap rises.
The 49ers went 610 last season, a sevenwin dropoff from 2019, and they pointed to their NFLhigh 32 injuredreserve transactions as the primary reason for their decline.
“I was up in the air,” Tartt said about his return. “I wasn’t sure because I was coming off an injury. I wasn’t sure they were going to want me back here or not. They did. And I feel like that’s good thing because I feel I left a lot on the field last year.”
Given Tartt’s injuries, it’s notable the 49ers added an experienced strong safety Monday to serve as his backup: Tavon Wilson, 31, a nineyear veteran, signed a oneyear deal. Wilson has played in 125 games (45 starts) with the Patriots, Lions and Colts. Last year, Wilson made two starts in his lone season with Indianapolis. In 2019, he made 13 starts with the Lions. Wilson has eight interceptions, 20 pass breakups and five sacks in his career.
Tartt is determined to stay healthy in 2021 in his second straight contract year. Tartt and Ward, who were teammates at Davidson High School in Mobile, Ala., have each struggled to consistently stay on the field. They have combined to miss 49 games since Ward moved from cornerback to free safety in 2017.
“To be back one more year with Jimmie and to (have a chance) to have a complete season with both me and Jimmie on the field, it’s something we’ve always wanted to do,” Tartt said, “show the NFL we can be a toptwo (safety) tandem. That’s what we believe we are.”
Last year, the 49ers moved free safety Tarvarius Moore to strong safety shortly after Tartt was placed on injured reserve. Moore could return to free safety in 2021 and serve as Ward’s backup. Moore, a 2018 thirdround pick, played cornerback as a rookie, which was his position at Southern Miss. The 49ers have little depth to back up projected starting corners Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley.
Meanwhile, Tartt’s return continued an offseason theme for the 49ers, who wanted to keep their 2020 core together. Since March 14, they have retained six starters with extensions or signings. Tartt joined Verrett, Moseley, left tackle Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and nose tackle D.J. Jones.
Tartt, Ward, Armstead and cornerback Dontae Johnson are the only players remaining who were drafted by former general manager Trent Baalke.
“I’ve been here my whole time in the NFL,” Tartt said. “It’s like a family here. It means everything.”