Niner Noise
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49ers training camp: 6 biggest risers and fallers so far

By Robert Smith

SANTA CLARA, CA - MAY 23: Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in drills during 49ers Rookie Minicamp on May 23, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - MAY 23: Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in drills during 49ers Rookie Minicamp on May 23, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 25: Tight end Jimmy Graham #88 of the Seattle Seahawks grabs the ball away from free safety Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers for a long gain during the second quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 25, 2016 in Seattle,Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 25: Tight end Jimmy Graham #88 of the Seattle Seahawks grabs the ball away from free safety Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers for a long gain during the second quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 25, 2016 in Seattle,Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Faller: Eric Reid

It may seem like I’m picking on the 49ers secondary, but with the injury bug hitting a relatively thin position, the scrutiny is justified.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Much like Jimmie Ward, safety Eric Reid also has been dinged up frequently. He missed six games last year with a torn biceps muscle.

After a stellar rookie season in 2013 that saw him grab four interceptions and 91 tackles and make the Pro Bowl, Reid’s production since has steadily declined. Over the last two seasons, Reid has just one interception while also exposing an area of concern: concussions.

Reid has had three concussions already in his career, and moving into the strong safety role will almost assuredly increase the number of high impact collisions he will deliver or absorb.

And while his 6-foot-1, 213-pound frame may be perfectly suited for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s 4-3 hybrid defense, that history does leave one wondering how that will play out during a 16-game schedule.

While the ankle injury appears to be just a minor setback, the 49ers can ill-afford injuries in the back of the defense, where they have a host of young but inexperienced players (Chanceller James, Lorenzo Jerome and Vinnie Sunseri, to name a few) vying for playing time.

The success of the defense this season will depend in large part to the play of the safeties, so this position will be important to keep an eye on as training, the preseason, and the regular season continues.