49ers pregame: Tartt, Ward to start at safety

Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward are active and will be their team’s starting safeties for the first time since their senior year of high school.

Tartt, who will start at strong safety in place of Eric Reid (knee), suffered a neck injury Sunday but practiced during the week. Ward, the team's free safety, will make his first-ever start at free safety in the 49ers' new defense.

Ward and Tartt starred at Davidson High School in Mobile, Ala. They’ve started five games together with the 49ers, but Ward was a cornerback in the previous contests.

Meanwhile, tight end George Kittle (hip) is active as is linebacker Eli Harold (foot) who was a late addition to the 49ers’ injury report. If Harold is not at full strength, Dekoda Watson could fill in at strong-side linebacker.

For the second straight week, receiver Victor Bolden Jr. is in uniform and will handle kickoffs. Fellow rookie Kendrick Bourne is inactive.

Watson (special teams), Joe Staley (offense) and DeForest Buckner (defense) are San Francisco’s team captains.

49ers inactives:

S Eric Reid

LB Reuben Foster

CB Ahkello Witherspoon

C Erik Magnuson

WR Kendrick Bourne

DL Xavier Cooper

DE Pita Taumoepenu

Rams inactives:

QB Brandon Allen

CB Kayvon Webster

OLB Ejuan Price

T Andrew Donnal

T Cornelius Lucas

RB Malcolm Brown

S Marqui Christian

This story was originally published September 21, 2017 at 4:02 PM.