49ers general manager John Lynch on Monday in his season-opening press conference announced that defensive back DJ Reed would go on the reserve/Non-Football Injury list, which effectively ends Reed’s season before it could begin.

Reed in the offseason tore a pectoral that required surgery. While there was some hope he may be able to return late in the year after Texans defensive end JJ Watt and 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander made relatively quick returns from the same injury last season.

However, not every injury is the same and not every players heals at the same rate, so the 49ers placed the third-year defensive back on the reserve/NFI list.

The reserve/NFI list designation means Reed won’t count toward the 49ers’ 90-man training camp roster. He’ll be required to stay on the reserve/NFI list for at least six weeks. The club can open a three-week practice window after that. At the end of that three week period he’d either need to be activated or stay on the reserve/NFI list.

Lynch didn’t sound optimistic that Reed would return this year though. He said the move would effectively end his season.

“That’s a tough one for us,” Lynch said via Zoom in the preseason press conference. “The earliest we might’ve had D.J. back, was early November, but it’s a four-to-six month injury.”

Reed is a do-everything defensive back for San Francisco who backs up nickel corner K’Waun Williams, but also spent some time at free safety as a rookie. He’s also a special teams contributor, so replacing him won’t be easy. There’s a chance he’s a legitimate factor next season as a starter with Williams set to hit free agency.

With Reed sidelined likely for the season, the 49ers’ cornerback depth becomes an even larger roster battle to watch in camp.

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The injury bug bit the 49ers again in the 2020 offseason — this time on the defensive side. Defensive back DJ Reed on Thursday tweeted that he tore his pectoral and would need surgery on the injury.

While Reed doesn’t have a prominent role in the 49ers’ defense — he played just 125 defensive snaps last season — he is a versatile player who simultaneously gives San Francisco depth at corner and free safety. He was the starting nickel corner in Week 15 last season when K’Waun Williams was out. He’s also a key special teams contributor who played on 37 percent of those snaps while also serving as a reserve kick returner.

A torn pec doesn’t necessarily have a set timeline for return. Kwon Alexander was thought to be out for the season when he tore his on Oct. 31, but he returned for the 49ers’ playoff opener against the Vikings on Jan. 11. If Reed is on that timetable, he’d be back sometime in September.

However, since we don’t know the severity of the injury, it’s impossible to gauge when Reed might return. From his post Thursday evening, it sounds like he’s yet to go in for surgery.

“I will speak positively only, because the power of the tongue is real,” the 23-year-old wrote. “Once I get surgery I will heal up & attack my rehab.”

Reed’s injury at least temporarily opens a spot at cornerback for the 49ers, so the coaching staff will have some decisions to make in their contingency plan in case Williams is unavailable again.

San Francisco selected Reed in the fifth round of the 2018 draft out of Kansas State. In 31 career games he has two starts, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery, 1.0 sacks and 54 tackles.

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