After Landon Collins injury it's time for Ron Rivera to call Eric Reid originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
FEDEX FIELD -- Landon Collins made his best play of the season in the first quarter, a strip-sack of Andy Dalton that resulted in a safety, but that will be his last sack of the 2020 season.
Later in Washington's 25-3 win over the Cowboys, Collins went down with a non-contact injury and had to be carted off the field. The scene looked bad and the news confirmed it: Collins tore his Achilles and needs surgery.
It's bad news for a good guy in Collins, but it's also bad team for the Washington Football Team.
There could, however, be a fix.
Eric Reid played safety for Ron Rivera in Carolina last season and logged 130 tackles with four sacks in 16 games. And Reid is available right now.
Washington has young players that might be able to step up in Collins' absence, namely Deshazor Everett, Troy Apke and Kam Curl. But depth will be an issue, and Reid has played at a high level in the past.
In fact, in September, the Washington Football Team's Ron Rivera was asked about perhaps signing Reid, and the coach gave the safety high praise
"We’re in a fortunate position where we have Landon Collins. A guy like Eric Reid wouldn’t fit us here. But if we didn’t [have Collins], believe me, I’d call him," Rivera said.
Well, Collins is gone now.
"I think [Reid's] a guy that has the ability to play in this league and hopefully, if somebody needs a strong safety, he’s a guy they would call."
This will be interesting to watch because Reid has been highly critical of the NFL and the NFLPA for the recent labor agreement and he's been an outspoken proponent for social justice and ending police brutality. Reid was the first player to support Colin Kaepernick when he began to kneel during the National Anthem back in 2016.
He had a great year in 2019, but right now, can't get on an NFL field. One thing probably has something to do with the other.
For Rivera, he's been an advocate for social justice and already coached Reid. Rivera knows the player and what he's capable of on the field and off.
"He’s a heck of a teammate,” Rivera said of Reid in September. "He came in and the young man did exactly what was asked of him. He was not an issue. I will say this, too. He’s a young man who really, truly helped me understand the entire movement that’s going on right now. He’s a heck of a young man. I’ll tell you that much."
Well, Washington could use help at safety.
The team is just a half game out of first place in the NFC East, and with the bye week coming up, Reid could have extra time to learn the Washington defense and play calls.
There are other safeties available in free agency, and Jeremy Reaves is another young player on the Washington practice squad that could be in line for snaps.
None of those guys made 130 tackles last season. Reid did.
