Jeff Reed flew in from Pittsburgh this morning and based on what he said following his arrival, he probably packed more than a suitcase.
It appears Reed will be sticking around for a while.
“I’ve been told that I’ll be here the rest of the season,” said Reed, the veteran placekicker who officially signed with the 49ers today to fill-in for Joe Nedney.
Reed’s declaration came as a bit of surprise given that it appeared Nedney was close to returning this week after missing the past two games. On Wednesday, coach Mike Singletary said he felt “pretty good” about the 15-year veteran being able to play at Green Bay on Sunday.
But it appears Nedney had a significant setback when he tested it this
week after suffering a right knee strain and bone bruise on his plant
leg on Nov. 14 against St. Louis. Nedney stayed in the game and made
three field goals, including the game-winner in overtime.
After Reed met with the media today, personnel director Trent Baalke
said Nedney will have a medical exam on Monday and said it “doesn’t look
good” in discussing Nedney’s chances of returning this season.
The Niners initially contacted Reed, 31, the day after he was waived on
Nov. 16 by Pittsburgh, where he spent the first nine seasons of his
career. At the time, Reed said he wasn’t interested because he was in a
“state of shock” and didn’t want to fill in for one game.
But the circumstances have obviously changed and the 49ers will turn to
Reed, the 15th-most accurate kicker in NFL history (81.9) who lost his
form this season. Reed ranked 32nd in the NFL in field goal percentage
(15 of 22, 68.2) after this season’s first nine games and was 0 of 4
from 40 to 49 yards.
He was waived by Pittsburgh two days after missing a 26-yard field goal against the Patriots and blaming the field conditions.
Reed plans to practice with long snapper Brian Jennings and holder Andy
Lee on Saturday morning before the Niners board their flight to Green
Bay.
“It’s only been two weeks but it seems like an eternity when you’re
sitting at home watching football games and you’ve been a part of it for
so long,” Reed said. “So I’m really excited. Whatever happens with Joe,
I wish him the best and I hope he gets healthy and still gets after it
because he’s very capable of doing it. I’m just glad to have an
opportunity. Unfortunately it’s through an injury.”
Reed has spent the past two weeks working out a local gym and kicking at
the sometimes snow-covered field at North Hills High School in
Pittsburgh. Given his background, he says he’s more than ready for Green
Bay, where the temperature at kickoff is expected to be below 30
degrees.
“It’s just kind of like home,” Reed said. “I played in Pittsburgh in the
winter for nine seasons. I played in Cleveland last year and it was
minus-27 degrees wind chill, 40 mile-per-hour winds and that was no
fun.”
Reed managed to make both field-goal attempts last year in those conditions, including a 42-yarder.
But this season hasn’t featured many fond memories. He was asked if, mentally, he was ready to start kicking again.
“I’ve got a good resume, but change is always good and this is part of
my plan,” Reed said, “I was a little dejected when it happened and I
still kind of have questions about it, but that’s old news now. This is
new and it’s good to see new faces and a team that is hungry no matter
what their record is and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
• CB Will James (concussion) is doubtful for Sunday’s game. James has
missed two games after getting injured on the opening kickoff on Nov. 14
against St. Louis.
C David Baas (concussion), LB Parys Haralson (ankle) and CB Shawntae
Spencer (quadricep) are listed as questionable, but Singletary termed
Baas and Spencer as probable when meeting with the media today.
WR Josh Morgan (shoulder) and RB Brian Westbrook (ankle) are probable.
• Singletary spoke today before the media met with Reed.
Here’s what he
said regarding the optimism regarding Nedney’s return earlier in the
week: “Well he came out to kick and it got a little tight on him. He
didn’t feel comfortable with it, and of course we told him ‘You know
just be honest with us, and let us know where you are,’ and he did. So
we just felt that we did not want to rush him. We know that he’s been
around awhile. He knows his body, so just giving him a chance to get
healthy.”
• Reed is the only Niner with a Super Bowl ring. RB Brian Westbrook, T
Barry Sims and LB Travis LaBoy have played in a Super Bowl.
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