‘Not super friendly’: 49ers’ Mooney Ward-DK Metcalf matchup still runs hot

The Week 15 battle between San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf was extremely physical and, at times, openly hostile.

Ward traveled with Metcalf across the field, and San Francisco held the former Pro Bowl receiver to 55 receiving yards in the game. During the teams’ Week 2 matchup, Metcalf was limited to just 35 receiving yards.

While speaking to reporters in the 49ers’ locker room Thursday ahead of Round 3, Ward called Metcalf a “big physical specimen” and complimented his “nice-looking body.” Ward said Metcalf “does a lot of” trash talking and “if he wants to talk, he can talk. I’m just going to play. I’ll let my play do the talk.” When asked if he ever talks to Metcalf outside a game setting, Ward replied, “Nah, I’m not super friendly, especially with other players. I never talk to him. I don’t know him like that.”

Apparently sensing the tension between the two players, a reporter asked Ward about his teammate and namesake Jimmie Ward’s offseason remarks about Metcalf. In April, Jimmie Ward said on an Instragram live he wanted Metcalf to remain with Seattle in 2022 because he wanted Metcalf to play on what was expected to be a losing team following the Russell Wilson trade. “Oh, we’re gonna line his ass up,” Ward said in April. “Please, please don’t trade him, please let him go through what the f—k I’ve been through in my early years,” he said, referring to the dark years of the Kelly-Tomsula interregnum. (While the Niners owned the Seahawks this year, Ward was wrong that the Wilson deal would hurt the team.)

“We don’t really gossip about other players,” Charvarius Ward said when asked if he and Jimmie Ward have talked about Metcalf. “We just focus on ourselves.”

It is extremely difficult to believe that Jimmie Ward, who has his own colorful history with Metcalf, has not discussed a common foe with his teammate. Of course, Charvarius would never divulge anything about those conversations, and his discomfort with the topic became apparent near the end of his answer.

“As long as we’re doing our thing and sticking to our routine and preparation we’re going to be perfectly fine,” he told reporters. “I think y’all talked about DK enough.”

While Metcalf was not asked directly about either of the Wards this week, there’s a high chance of fireworks on Saturday. Metcalf has been involved in several altercations with defensive backs over the past couple of years. Just on Sunday, he got chippy with Los Angeles Rams corner Jalen Ramsey.

After Ramsey hit Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith out of bounds and was assessed a 15-yard penalty, Metcalf put a hand on Ramsey’s face mask and could have easily been hit with a 15-yard penalty of his own before he was restrained by teammates. The incident drew criticism from former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, who said, “His maturity level needs to change,” and “He’s talented, he’s fast and big and unique — but it seems you can get more out of him.”

The Niners are sure to want to get under Metcalf’s skin early and often Saturday. For the Seahawks to have any chance against the “juggernaut,” he can’t let them.