SANTA CLARA -- If defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil has his druthers, Jimmie Ward will stick to outside cornerback this season and will not be required to slip inside to the nickel role on obvious passing downs.
Ward, however, made a good case on Monday for doing both.
Lining up as the nickel cornerback, the third-year cornerback broke on a quick pass from Blaine Gabbert and grabbed an interception for what would have been an easy touchdown. The play was similar to his pick and score last year in Chicago.
If Ward ultimately is limited to outside cornerback role this season, the candidates to play nickel cornerback, according to O'Neil, are rookie Will Redmond, Keith Reaser and Chris Davis, who had that role through much of the spring practices.