Entering their Week 9 game brutally thin at the pass-catcher spots, the 49ers will have some help Thursday night. They are set to activate Jordan Reed from IR, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Reed has been on San Francisco’s IR since late September, when an MCL issue sidelined him after a productive game against the Jets. The longtime Washington tight end has struggled to stay healthy for most of his career, but the 49ers need bodies to catch passes against the Packers.
San Francisco is down George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne because of injuries and COVID-19 issues. Richie James is also questionable with an ankle injury. Reed and Ross Dwelley figure to pick up the slack for Kittle, while the 49ers will need to promote some wide receivers from their practice squad ahead of tonight’s game.
After missing the entire 2019 season because of a concussion and subsequently considering retirement, Reed signed with the 49ers on a one-year deal this offseason. The 30-year-old tight end managed to play 13 games in 2018 — when he caught 54 passes for 558 yards and two TDs — and did produce a seven-catch, 50-yard, two-TD game in Week 2 against the Jets.