One of the benefits behind the multitude of injuries the San Francisco 49ers have had in 2018 is it’s given head coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff to evaluate deeper parts of the roster.
Particularly in the secondary, where season-ending injuries to defensive backs Jimmie Ward (forearm), Ahkello Witherspoon (knee) and Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) have opened up playing time for the Niners’ younger, more-recent investments.
This wasn’t exactly the case entering the season. Tartt was pegged as the starting strong safety with little competition, while Witherspoon was all but handed the starting cornerback gig alongside the veteran, Richard Sherman.