49ers’ Jordan Reed – and His 7 Concussions — Will Regret Comeback Attempt
Jordan Reed is ready to make the most of what could be his final opportunity in the NFL.
A veteran tight end who spent his entire career with the then-Washington Redskins, Reed signed with the San Francisco 49ers this month.
Although Reed has been an impactful player when healthy, that’s the problem. Injuries, especially concussions, constantly kept Reed off the field.
With seven documented concussions to his name, Reed may regret trying to make a comeback attempt.
Jordan Reed signed with the San Francisco 49ers
Still only 30, Jordan Reed entered the NFL as a third-round pick of the Washington Redskins in 2013.
Reed had some extremely productive years in Washington, though none were better than his 2015 campaign. Reed caught 87 passes for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns on a Washington team that won the NFC East Division.
Things haven’t been as great in recent years. Although Reed made the Pro Bowl in 2016, he only played six games in 2017 and missed another three games in 2018.
Reed missed all of last year after he suffered a concussion in the preseason. After he considered retiring, Reed opted to play another year and signed with the San Francisco 49ers in August.
Reed has had seven documented concussions
Since November 2010, Jordan Reed has had seven documented concussions both in college and the NFL.
NBC Sports Washington compiled a full timeline of the concussions last year. Reed suffered three concussions at the University of Florida, but he didn’t miss any games after the first two.
Reed’s rookie season in 2013 ended when he suffered a concussion, his fourth, that November. The fifth concussion came in October 2015 in a game against the rival Eagles. Reed also hurt his ankle tht day and missed Washington’s next two games.
Reed suffered his sixth concussion in October 2016 and missed two games. Then came last year’s injury, when Reed endured a brutal hit by Falcons safety Keanu Neal.
Jordan Reed will regret the health risks that come with his comeback
Jordan Reed and Brandin Cooks, now with the Texans, have never played together. But both could bond over their shared ignorance of concussions.
Cooks has had five concussions since he entered the NFL in 2014. In an interview earlier this summer, Cooks said he wasn’t worried about the long-term impact of the concussions, nor was he concerned about future risks.
Reed had seven concussions in a nine-year span and all before he turned 30. The only seasons in that span where Reed didn’t suffer a concussion were 2014, 2017, and 2018.
Reed’s last concussion was so bad that he spent the entire season in concussion protocol. And he wanted to come back for another year and put himself at risk again?
Reed has earned over $32 million in his career, according to Over the Cap. He’s made a sizable amount of money for his age.
This is Reed’s choice to come back, even after missing the entire 2019 season with a concussion. But the odds don’t favor him making it through the season without any added damage, both in the short and long-term.
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