Jordan Reed shows he’s back in top form with dazzling catch

The 49ers won't have as big of a postseason highlight reel this year as they did after their Super Bowl run in 2019, but one play that will definitely be on it is the one-handed catch made against the New Orleans Saints in Week 10 by tight end Jordan Reed.

The catch came on a third-down play in the second quarter of the 49ers' 27-13 loss to the Saints and featured Reed reaching down for a low ball thrown by Nick Mullens and hauling it in with his fingertips. It was a pass that in many instances would have hit the ground, but Reed was able to make a catch that was one of the highlights of the game, even if it fell short of a first down.

"I had a choice route," Reed said after the game. "(Saints safety) Malcolm Jenkins had pretty good coverage on me. Nick, he got hit as he threw the ball, so it was a low ball. I saw it coming and I just tried my hardest to catch the tail end and step. I'm grateful for that catch for sure."

The catch was one of five on the day for Reed, who had 62 yards receiving.

"It was a route that we liked," Mullens said. "They kind of hit my hand so I didn't like the throw obviously. It wasn't a great throw. I was surprised he caught it, but I guess you expect nothing less from Jordan. It was a great catch. It's one of his many great plays during the game."

Reed has had a few terrific moments for the 49ers this season, even though he missed the month of October due to a knee injury. Reed returned to the field in time for the 49ers' Week 9 game against Green Bay Packers and caught one pass in a 34-17 loss, then took a step up in his productivity during the loss to the Saints.

"Jordan's a beast. He's a playmaker," Mullens said. "That's all it really comes down to. He's good against zone coverage, good against man coverage. He has really good hands and is just a great football player. He's got a great mindset and he attacks his job more than anybody. So he's a great target."

And, as Reed showed in Week 10, he's back to the form he showed early in the season when he caught 11 passes and two touchdowns over his first three games. That's a good sign considering Reed has been plagued with injuries for much of his NFL career and had previously not played in a game since his days with Washington in 2018.

"I feel 100 percent," Reed said. "Our training staff and our weighlifting coaches did a great job with my rehab and gave me sufficient time to heal up. So now it's just all about knocking the rust off and staying out there and being available."