Report: Eric Reid Eyed by Washington Football Team After Landon Collins' Injury

The Washington Football Team is reportedly considering free-agent safety Eric Reid as an option to replace Landon Collins, who's set for season-ending surgery for an Achilles injury.

ESPN's John Keim reported Tuesday that Washington is "considering all options," including Reid.

The 28-year-old LSU product spent the past two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, mostly under current Washington head coach Ron Rivera, who led Carolina's coaching staff for eight-plus years before being fired last December.

In September, Rivera said Collins' presence kept him from signing Reid, but he provided a strong endorsement of the veteran safety.

"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 told reporters. "I think he'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."

Reid posted a career-high 130 total tackles along with six passes defended, four sacks and two fumble recoveries across 16 games for the Panthers last season.

The Louisiana native spent the first five seasons of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, who selected him in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He earned a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie.

Reid was one of the first athletes to join Colin Kaepernick's movement to kneel during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. Kaepernick, who's remained out of the NFL since March 2017, posted a message of support for the defensive back in September:

If signed, Reid would have to go through COVID-19 protocols before being named to the active roster, but he'd likely take over as the team's starting strong safety once cleared.

Washington safety Deshazor Everett could fill the void in the short term. Jeremy Reaves just got promoted from the practice squad, but he's more accustomed to playing free safety.