
SANTA CLARA – As the only remaining captain among the 49ers’ defensive backs, safety Eric Reid said this is not the time for the team to push the panic button.
“I don’t want to overreact,” Reid said. “Our record, yeah, we’re 2-5, but we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. I don’t think anybody needs to start a yelling-fest, point fingers at anybody. That’s what we don’t need. We have to understand the mistakes we’ve been making and correct them.”
Reid pointed the finger at himself for a play in the 49ers’ 20-3 loss Thursday night to the Seattle Seahawks in which he failed to recognize an empty backfield formation that should have alerted him to change the 49ers’ defense.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
[REWIND: Top 5 takeaways from 49ers' Week 7 loss to Seahawks]
As a result, Reid said, Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse was left all alone for a pass reception.
Reid, a third-year player, will be asked to supply even more leadership for the remaining nine games of the season. Fellow captain Antoine Bethea is out for the rest of the season due to a torn pectoral. Reid will likely line up alongside rookie Jaquiski Tartt. He said the 49ers have to do a better job of fulfilling their individual assignments.
“I think we have not been putting ourselves in great positions to help ourselves,” Reid said. “Not taking anything away from the teams that have beaten us, but we definitely haven’t helped ourselves in those games.
San Francisco 49ers
Find the latest San Francisco 49ers news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
“There are some situations where we make a few adjustments or we don’t make a mistake here or there and we come out on the other end of those games. Our record would be different. In critical times we just have to make plays instead of shooting ourselves in the foot.”
The 49ers return to action on Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. He said he was actually able to go on a date over the weekend with his wife. Overall, Reid said the extended time off has been beneficial.
“It’s good to get away for a little bit, get a couple more hours of sleep,” Reid said. “Definitely use it to recover. It’s like a second bye week.”