49ers general manager John Lynch on Monday in his season-opening press conference announced that defensive back DJ Reed would go on the reserve/Non-Football Injury list, which effectively ends Reed’s season before it could begin.
Reed in the offseason tore a pectoral that required surgery. While there was some hope he may be able to return late in the year after Texans defensive end JJ Watt and 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander made relatively quick returns from the same injury last season.
However, not every injury is the same and not every players heals at the same rate, so the 49ers placed the third-year defensive back on the reserve/NFI list.
The reserve/NFI list designation means Reed won’t count toward the 49ers’ 90-man training camp roster. He’ll be required to stay on the reserve/NFI list for at least six weeks. The club can open a three-week practice window after that. At the end of that three week period he’d either need to be activated or stay on the reserve/NFI list.
Lynch didn’t sound optimistic that Reed would return this year though. He said the move would effectively end his season.
“That’s a tough one for us,” Lynch said via Zoom in the preseason press conference. “The earliest we might’ve had D.J. back, was early November, but it’s a four-to-six month injury.”
Reed is a do-everything defensive back for San Francisco who backs up nickel corner K’Waun Williams, but also spent some time at free safety as a rookie. He’s also a special teams contributor, so replacing him won’t be easy. There’s a chance he’s a legitimate factor next season as a starter with Williams set to hit free agency.
With Reed sidelined likely for the season, the 49ers’ cornerback depth becomes an even larger roster battle to watch in camp.
