It became clear in the 49ers’ 40-10 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday that former first-round pick Eric Reid is no longer the team’s starting strong safety. Reid, who was on the shelf for a handful of weeks following a knee injury sustained in Week 2, was instead taking snaps at outside linebacker, with head coach Kyle Shanahan electing to keep the impressive Jaquiski Tartt in Reid’s former position.
The move has caused many to speculate on Reid’s longterm future with the team, especially considering that he’s due to become a free agent next season, and on the heels of the 49ers releasing fellow veteran NoVarro Bowman after his playing time was cut down.
Reid told the media on Thursday that Shanahan and general manager John Lynch said “no” when Reid asked them if they could ensure he’d be on the team next season. Lynch implied this was a mischaracterization when he joined Murph & Mac on Friday, saying that he hadn’t spoken to Reid until that morning, but also stating that Reid’s future with the team will be predicated on his ability to play the linebacker position for the remainder of the season.
“It’s to be determined,” Lynch said of Reid’s future. “Go play. Those things take care of themselves. The fact of the matter is Eric Reid got hurt up in Seattle and Jaquaski Tartt came in and played good football and so we feel like he earned that spot for now. There’s a lot of football to be played and I commend (defensive coordinator) Robert Salah. They’re trying to find a position where they think Eric can excel and it’s to be determined as to how successful that can be and I think Eric can control that. I think for any player that’s what you tell them to go do. ‘Hey you control your own fate by the way you play.’
“So I’m going to sit back and watch and evaluate it just like I do everyone else.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Lynch’s comments on Reid, skip to 8:00.