Ward was unimpressed with DeAndre Hopkins and felt the Cardinals wide receiver was playing dirty in the Mexico City matchup. Hopkins finished the game with nine catches for 91 yards. However, he had just two catches for 14 yards in the second half as the 49ers defense continued its post-halftime dominant play.
"D Hop, he think he a tough guy," Ward said, per Jake Hutchinson of KNBR. "He think he still one of the best receivers in the league and he really not. He was trying to talk noise and talk hard all game. We not scared of him. He thought we was scared of him. He tried to intimidate us, but forget him, we did our thing. We went out there and got a dub and we did our job. He was just yip-yapping all game, but we don't care about that. We just wanted to win."
Ward briefly exited the game in the first quarter. The 49ers announced that the cornerback was dealing with a groin injury. He returned and looked to be playing through some discomfort, leading the team in tackles with 10. According to Pro Football Focus, Ward has yet to miss a tackle this season.
While Hopkins might intimidate some NFL defensive backs, Ward was more troubled by how the veteran wideout was trying to get under his skin, even adding a jab regarding Hopkins' earlier six-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
"He was getting locked up. He was doing some dirty things," Ward said. "He tried to clip me, he grabbed me by the throat. He grabbed my facemask on one play, so I don't respect his game. That's steroid boy."
The Ward-Hopkins Week 18 matchup should be an interesting one.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Brock Purdy reacts to returning against Bills after shoulder injury
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is poised to return to action on Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills after missing a game due to a shoulder injury. While Purdy is officially listed as questionable, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the quarterback is expected to... -
Christian McCaffrey takes responsibility after 49ers' loss to Packers: "I just gotta be better"
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey didn't hide his disappointment after Sunday's crushing loss to the Green Bay Packers. Despite being shorthanded due to injuries, the 49ers had hoped to put up more of a fight in a critical matchup at Lambeau Field. Instead,... -
Brandon Allen gets support from Shanahan, Kittle after first 49ers start
Brandon Allen didn't do enough to be counted among the rare bright spots in the 49ers' dreadful 38-10 road loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but head coach Kyle Shanahan and tight end George Kittle found enough positives in the veteran quarterback's performance to give... -
George Kittle reveals Kyle Shanahan's message to 49ers after frustrating loss to Packers
San Francisco 49ers players were visibly dejected while speaking to reporters after Sunday's demoralizing 38-10 defeat to the Green Bay Packers. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel declined to talk with the media after a frustrating one-catch performance. "It's probably one of the...