Redskins TE Jordan Reed Remains In Concussion Protocol

New Redskins HC Ron Rivera told Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic over the weekend that TE Jordan Reed remains in the concussion protocol, nearly six months removed from the preseason hit he sustained that cost him the entire 2019 season.

“We’re evaluating all of our options,” Rivera said. “We have a good young group of guys, and we’re just looking at things and deciding whether or not we want to go that way, continue to get younger — or, do we have to sit there and sprinkle in some veteran guys?

“A great example is the tight end position. Vernon Davis is retired. Jordan Reed is still going through the concussion protocol. He’s a very veteran guy. We have an opportunity to bring in a guy like Greg Olsen — so that’s one of the positions where we have identified, said ‘Hey, we do need to have a veteran guy at that position one way or another?‘”

It’s obviously concerning that Reed has yet to clear the concussion protocol. He has dealt with a number of injuries since entering the NFL and sustained seven documented concussions over the course of six seasons, which has led to questions as to whether he’ll attempt to return to the game of football or possibly call it a career. 

Reports have said that Reed is someone to watch as a potential release candidate this offseason, so the tight end position figures to be a big need for Washington to address in the coming months.

Reed, 29, was taken in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Redskins. He was in the final year of his rookie contract when he signed a six-year, $48 million deal that included $22 million guaranteed with Washington.

Reed stands to make base salaries of $8.25 million and $8.75 million over the next two years of the agreement.

According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Reed would free up $8.5 million of available cap space while creating $1.8 million in dead money. 

In 2018, Reed appeared in 13 games and caught 54 passes for 558 yards receiving and two touchdowns.