The 49ers bet.
They lost.
And the Seattle Seahawks won – big.
The 49ers decided to dismiss DJ Reed’s defense at the start of the training camp in August, a month after he suffered a rupture in his chest that would leave him out for half the regular season.
The Seahawks claimed Reed’s resignations.
On Sunday, the 49ers face Reed for the second time this season and will be reminded of the player who ran away.
“DJ drove us crazy about losing,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told Seattle media on Wednesday.
Reed made his Seahawks debut in Week 8 against the 49ers. He had an immediate impact by intercepting Jimmy Garoppolo to contribute to the Seahawks’ 37-27 victory.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll knew about Reed the three times he played for the 49ers against Seattle. General manager John Schneider was well aware of Reed in the 2018 NFL Draft. The 49ers selected Reed in the fifth round with overall choice No. 142.
“John thought we really had something special about the boy and recognized that there was an opportunity to claim him, so we went after him,” said Carroll.
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Shanahan said the 49ers felt like they couldn’t keep Reed because of all the players they already had and that they were selected for the list of physically unable to perform at the start of the training camp.
“At that time, we had an unprecedented number of guys who were in the PUP,” said Shanahan. “We couldn’t have more with the rules of the squad and how many we had to knock down. We didn’t know if he would be able to return during the year. Many decisions have been made.
“We hoped we wouldn’t lose it. Obviously, Seattle got him, and they got a great player because of that. He’s a guy I really like, as a person and as a player. It’s something that I wish we could get back. “
Reed was an ultra-versatile member of the 49ers’ defensive backfield with his ability to play nickel, cornerback and safety. But he never worked to start a role full time.
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It didn’t take long to get an initial job with the Seahawks. His most recent role is as the right defender of the team.
“He immediately showed his stuff,” said Carroll. “We expected him to be a nickel and maybe a safety or a corner. We weren’t sure. We had seen him play in those places, but we didn’t know how he would fit.
“But as soon as we put him on the pitch, we just loved the guy and his natural instincts and his super-good speed. His style and conscience were really obvious, so he jumped on the spot. He played nickel and played well. We moved him to the corner because we needed it, and he played well and kept his job. ”
Reed produced with his new team.
He recorded 81 tackles, eight saved passes and two interceptions in his nine games with the Seahawks, who won the NFC West title last week.