Jihad Ward

Originally a 2nd-round (44th pick overall) draft choice by the Oakland Raiders in 2016…Traded to the Dallas Cowboys for wide receiver Ryan Switzer on April 28, 2018…Released by Dallas on Sept. 1, 2018…Signed to the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad on Sept. 3, 2018 and to the active roster on Sept. 13, 2018…Released by Indianapolis on Oct. 1, 2018…Signed by the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 8, 2018…Signed as a free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars on March 17, 2021…Signed as a free agent by the Giants on March 21, 2022.

TRANSACTIONS:

• Originally a 2nd-round (44th pick overall) draft choice by the Oakland Raiders in 2016…Traded to the Dallas Cowboys for wide receiver Ryan Switzer on April 28, 2018…Released by Dallas on Sept. 1, 2018…Signed to the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad on Sept. 3, 2018 and to the active roster on Sept. 13, 2018…Released by Indianapolis on Oct. 1, 2018…Signed by the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 8, 2018…Signed as a free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars on March 17, 2021…Signed as a free agent by the Giants on March 21, 2022.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ward has played in 68 regular-season games with 15 starts for Oakland, Indianapolis, Baltimore and Jacksonville, and played in 3 postseason games for the Ravens…Career totals include 91 tackles (41 solo), 10.0 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 37 quarterback hits and 3 fumble recoveries…Has 5 solo postseason tackles.
• In 2021, played in all 17 games with one start for Jacksonville…Tallied 2 tackles (10 solo), 2.0 sacks, 3 tackles for loss and 7 quarterback hits…Collected a season-high 5 tackles (2 solo), including 1.0 sack, at the Jets (12/26)…Had an 8-yard sack at Tennessee (12/12).
• In 2020, played in 10 games for Baltimore and totaled 16 tackles (7 solo)…Tied his career-high with 3.0 sacks…Helped the Ravens' defense rank No. 2 in both points allowed (18.9) and third-down efficiency (34.0%)…Registered 1.0 sack and matched his career high with 4 tackles for loss and 2 passes defensed vs. the Giants (12/27)…Recorded 3 solo tackles, including one for loss, in 2 postseason games.
• In 2019, played 3 games for Indianapolis and 11 for Baltimore, plus one playoff game for the Ravens…Posted 7 tackles (3 solo), including 1.0 sack, for Baltimore…Recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Matthew Judon that led to a field goal, helping the Ravens clinch their 2nd consecutive playoff berth at Buffalo (12/8).
• In 2018, played in 6 games for the Colts…Finished with 4 tackles (all solo), a career-high 3.0 sacks and 3 tackle…Ended the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
• In 2017, played in 5 games with one starts for the Raiders…Finished with 2 tackles (one solo), 1.0 sack, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit…Took down Nick Foles for a 9-yard loss for his first career sack at Philadelphia (12/25).
• As a rookie in 2016, played in all 16 games with a career-high 13 starts…Registered a career-best 30 tackles (14 solo), one fumble recovery and 10 quarterback hits…Played both defensive end and tackle and was one of 3 Raiders rookies to play every game…Made 3 tackles and one fumble recovery in his NFL debut at New Orleans (9/11)…Posted a career-high 7 tackles (5 solo) at Kansas City (12/8).

 COLLEGE:

• Played 2 years at Illinois after transferring from Globe Institute of Technology (New York, N.Y.)…In 25 games, totaled 104 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries and 3 passes defensed…As a senior 2015, started all 12 games playing both defensive end and tackle and totaled 53 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 2 passes defensed…Named All-Big Ten honorable mention…In 2014, started all 13 games at defensive end and tallied 51 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries, leading the Big Ten and finishing 2nd in FBS…Named an All-Big Ten honorable mention honoree…Voted Illinois' Defensive Newcomer of the Year…Played 2 seasons at Globe Institute of Technology, totaling 81 tackles and 10.0 sacks…In 2013, played in 7 games for Globe Tech, collecting 26 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 3 tackles for loss.

PERSONAL:

• Majored in sport management at Illinois… Attended Edward W. Bok Technical High School in Philadelphia…Began his high school career as a wide receiver and safety before settling in at defensive end…Earned all-city honors in Philadelphia in each of his final two prep seasons (2010-11)...Was named first-team all-city in 2011 and 2nd-team in 2010…Played in Philadelphia Eagles Public vs. Non-Public City All-Star game at Lincoln Financial Field in spring 2012.