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3 SF 49ers players who’ll go off vs. NY Jets in Week 2

By Peter Panacy

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Will Tukuafu #92 of the San Francisco 49ers in action against Bart Scott #57 and David Harris #52 of the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 30, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 49ers defeated the Jets 34-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Will Tukuafu #92 of the San Francisco 49ers in action against Bart Scott #57 and David Harris #52 of the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 30, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 49ers defeated the Jets 34-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Jordan Reed, SF 49ers
Jordan Reed #81 of the San Francisco 49ers tackled by De’Vondre Campbell #59 of the Arizona Cardinals (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 2: SF 49ers tight end Jordan Reed could have one of those vintage games if he’s healthy

Tight end George Kittle took a hit to the knee from Cardinals safety Budda Baker in Week 1, which resulted in Kittle not being much of a factor for the second half of the game.

And on Friday, San Francisco officially ruled Kittle out for Sunday’s contest.

True, the Niners are also banged up and shorthanded at wide receiver. But getting Brandon Aiyuk back should at least prompt the Jets to respect his deep-ball ability, while the presence of newly acquired wide receiver Mohamed Sanu can alleviate some of the pressure elsewhere.

Elsewhere includes No. 2 tight end Jordan Reed.

Reed wasn’t a major factor in his return from a year-long absence in 2019, hauling in two catches in Week 1 for 12 yards.

What makes Reed a player to watch here, though, is the combined fact of the number of yards the Jets surrendered after the catch in Week 1. Picking up yards after the catch has been one of the main reasons why Kittle emerged as one of the NFL’s biggest stars, and this bout figures to play right into a top strength for Reed, too, who also had a similar reputation during his prime years with Washington.

Beyond that, New York missed a whopping 21 tackles in their Week 1 contest, by far the most in the league last week and opening up the real chance Reed, who has a pedigree of making defenders miss, could do some serious damage on Sunday.

Or anyone with the ball in his hands, for that matter.