SANTA CLARA, Calif. – As safety Eric Reid exited the tunnel to take the field for his NFL debut, he received some words of wisdom from All-Pro defensive mate Justin Smith: "Stay back."
As in, Smith and the defensive line would do their part up front and Reid only needed to stick to his duties in the secondary. All worked well for both groups in the 49ers' season-opening victory against Green Bay.
Reid's first game a rookie for San Francisco came against one of the league's best quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers. Reid shined, making an interception and six tackles.
The next task is equally tough for the first-rounder: Defending another dynamic quarterback, Russell Wilson, in the hostile, ear-piercing confines of CenturyLink Field, where Seattle's raucous fans will try to set a Guinness World Record for noise Sunday night.
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
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