How Tartt’s return offers a boost
Jaquiski Tartt’s San Francisco 49ers career is not done yet, and that could be quite helpful for a secondary facing major change at cornerback.
Tartt, 29, signed up for a seventh season after agreeing to a one-year deal, a league source confirmed Monday.
The 49ers locked up another veteran safety Monday in getting Tavon Wilson on a one-year deal, as well. Wilson played last year for the Indianapolis Colts after four seasons with the Detroit Lions and four with the New England Patriots.
Tartt, despite several injuries in recent seasons, is renown by teammates and coaches for his communication and organizational skills. A Nov. 5 turf toe injury kept Tartt out the remainder of last season.
Coach Kyle Shanahan has not been made available to comment on any signings or any moves,
nor has general manager John Lynch. They last spoke about the 49ers’ plans on Jan. 4.
Tartt’s return could make the 49ers’ transition smoother if they forge ahead without cornerbacks Richard Sherman and K’Waun Williams, who remain free agents.
The 49ers have re-signed projected starters Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley, but they only committed only to oneand two-year deals, so the secondary could remain in flux for a while. Dontae Johnson also resigned on a one-year deal, doing so Friday.
Tartt’s return was first reported by the NFL Network’s Peter Schrager.
The 49ers will have back their other top safeties: starter Jimmie Ward (Tartt’s high school teammate in Mobile, Ala.) and backups Tarvarius Moore and Marcell Harris. Other safeties include Kai Nacua, Jared Mayden, Chris Edwards and Wilson.
Tartt’s impact on the field is more about his overall influence on the defense’s back end rather than play-making skills. In his career, he’s totaled only four interceptions, four sacks and two forced fumbles.
Tartt hasn’t finished a season healthy three of the past four years. He missed four games in 2019 with a rib injury before returning for the playoff run to Super Bowl LIV.
A second-round draft pick in 2015 by then-general manager Trent Baalke, Tartt’s missed 26 of 64 games the past four seasons. His career has been hindered by injuries to his knee, quadriceps, arm, shoulder, groin and toe.
Others the 49ers resigned this month include Harris, Verrett, Moseley, defensive tackle D.J. Jones, left tackle Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and tight ends Ross Dwelley and Daniel Helm.