49ers notebook: Jordan Reed, Jerick McKinnon step up in blowout win over the Jets
In a game where the 49ers were decimated by injuries to key players, they were carried by guys who missed at least all of last season with lengthy injuries histories of their own.
Tight end Jordan Reed, filling in for All-Pro George Kittle, caught two touchdown passes, and running back Jerick McKinnon scored his second touchdown of the season while averaging nearly 26 yards per carry.
San Francisco thumped the Jets 31-13 and might have to continue riding Reed and McKinnon for the foreseeable future given all the uncertainty on offense. Top receiver Deebo Samuel will be out for at least one more game while the situation at running back seems far less clear.
Reed and McKinnon didn’t play last season and were considered wild-card additions to last season’s second-ranked scoring offense that featured a number of players who were unavailable Sunday.
“It feels great,” Reed said. “All the hard work in the offseason, having faith in myself and it actually coming true like that, it’s just feeling. I just understand that I got to keep improving every week.”
Reed, 30, didn’t sign with the 49ers until August and was slowly worked into the mix in training camp. He practiced sparingly as the team indicated it wanted to keep him as fresh and healthy as possible. His pass catching chops would potentially be needed as the season wore on while injures plagued the receiving corps throughout last month.
Reed appeared on just 10 snaps in the Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals but played considerably more Sunday. He finished with a team-high seven catches on eight targets for 50 yards and two scores. Sunday marked his first touchdown since Nov. 18, 2018, with Washington, and he scored multiple touchdowns for the first time October 2017.
McKinnon scored his first rushing touchdown of the season early in the fourth quarter with an impressive 16-yard run through the left side of New York’s defense. It put the game further out of reach for the home team. But that might not have been the most notable run from McKinnon, who missed the last two seasons due to recurring knee issues.
From San Francisco’s 11-yard line, McKinnon converted an unlikely third-and-31 with a 55-yard run that turned a nothing possession into a Robbie Gould field goal. It was the second consecutive week in which the shifty running back had an explosive run on third-and-long. He nearly scored a touchdown on third-and-goal from the 17-yard line last week before the 49ers failed to score on fourth down from the 1.
McKinnon, who finished with 77 yards on three carries, was asked about whether or not he thought a first down was possible on third-and-31.
“You can always believe,” McKinnon said. “Definitely just thinking get it out there, not be backed up for a punt. It was great blocking. Juice (fullback Kyle Juszczyk) made a great block and I was able to get to the second level and make a good cut off the back side.”
McKinnon could see his role increase after Raheem Mostert exited the game at halftime with a knee injury. Backup running back Tevin Coleman also exited late with a knee injury, coach Kyle Shanahan said, though the 49ers still had a productive game on the ground with 182 yards on 29 carries (6.3-yard average). Mostert scored an 80-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. But his status for next week remains unclear.
Mostert became the first 49er to record touchdowns of at least 75 yards in back-to-back weeks since Jerry Rice in 1988. Mostert has also scored touchdowns in eight consecutive regular season games, tying receivers Terrell Owens (1998), Rice (1989), Freddie Solomon (1984) and Dave Parks in a streak that spanned from 1965 to 1966.
Mullens set to assume QB duties
With Jimmy Garoppolo’s status uncertain with a high ankle sprain, Nick Mullens could be replacing the franchise quarterback for the first time since 2018.
Mullens filled in for Garoppolo after halftime inheriting a 21-3 lead and was able to maintain it with two scoring drives. His stat line: 8 of 11, 71 yards, an interception and a 51.7 passer rating.
“I thought I did a decent job of operating the game,” Mullens said. “You come in with a three-possession lead, so your job was just to manage the game, move the chains and create a rhythm.”
With limited practice reps as a backup, Mullens led six possessions after halftime, including three that didn’t register a first down. His interception went to cornerback Pierre Decir after he was hit as he was throwing and airmailed McKinnon.
Shanahan was asked after the game about his takeaways from Mullens’ performance and hinted he might have to start next week against the New York Giants with Garoppolo potentially sidelined for the first time since his 2018 knee injury.
“I thought Nick came in, made a couple big plays, for the most part,” Shanahan said. “We were running the ball then he didn’t have to do a ton. And then he messed up, it looked like that ball was a little high from what I saw, and I think he’ll be a lot more ready next with preparation.”
49ers hopeful Kittle can return Week 3, but might consider turf
ESPN early Sunday morning reported the 49ers were expecting Kittle to play next week against the Giants after being ruled out for the Jets game with a knee sprain.
But that was before Sunday’s game that included potential season-ending knee injuries to Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas, on top of the ailments to Mostert and Coleman. San Francisco’s players cited the sticky, newly installed synthetic turf at MetLife Stadium for some of the injuries, which might give the team pause when it comes to bringing Kittle back.
Shanahan was asked if ESPN’s report was true and if the turf will impact their decision making.
“I’m always optimistic about George when he’s hurt because he’s always got a chance,” Shanahan said. “He has a tough injury. I was optimistic that he might have a chance last week. That doesn’t change, but it’s still a tough deal. And I’ll be impressed if he gets back. Always hoping for that, but we’ll take all that into account when we discuss it with him over the next week or so.”
San Francisco will play on the same surface at the same stadium next week when they take on the Giants. They boarded a plane after Sunday’s win for West Virginia, where they’ll practice before returning to The Meadowlands. The 49ers stayed in the Eastern Time Zone twice between cross-country games last season, winning the second leg of both the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 and the New Orleans Saints in December.
This story was originally published September 20, 2020 at 4:08 PM.
