A year ago, injuries gave Adrian Colbert an opportunity and he made the most of it.
Now, the 49ers’ starting free safety has suffered his own injury, which will open the door for rookie D.J. Reed.
Colbert, who has a high ankle sprain, was injured in last weekend’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Head coach Kyle Shanahan says Colbert will be placed on injured serve and will “probably not” return this season.
It’s the latest in a long string of injuries to the team’s secondary, which has kept key players such as cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Jimmie Ward out of multiple games.
In seven games this season, Colbert was in on 20 tackles and had a pass defensed. The 49ers loved his play last season when, as a rookie out of Miami, he started six games, was in on 32 tackles, forced two fumbles and had five passes defensed. Shanahan said Colbert was playing well against the Rams when he was hurt in the third quarter making a play on a Rams receiver.
“I thought in this game he had covered sideline to sideline very well, just running and hitting,” Shanahan told reporters. “And made a real good play on the play he got hurt on, also. They tried to challenge us, go over the top, which you want the corner there on, but usually the middle-third player will show up with the speed Colbert has, and he did and he made a good play and unfortunately he got hurt.”
Reed, a fifth-round draft pick from Kansas State, will replace Colbert in the starting unit this Sunday when the 49ers play the Cardinals. Reed has played in all seven games this season and has 13 tackles. Ward could also take over at free safety when he comes back, if Reed’s play isn’t sufficient.
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“D.J. plays very hard,” said Shanahan. “He goes in there and runs and hits and does some good things. He’s still a rookie. He needs to play more. I know he’ll have some learning curve, but the game is not too big for him and we believe in him.”
The 49ers re-signed quarterback Tom Savage – who had been waived just a few days ago – to take Colbert’s roster spot.
The 49ers will travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m.
