Keith Reaser named AAF defensive player of the week for Week 2

The ex-49ers cornerback could be playing his way into another NFL opportunity.

The Alliance of American Football heads into Week 3 this weekend, and former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Keith Reaser will look to build on a big Week 2. The league named Reaser defensive player of the week for Week 2 courtesy of a pick-six and three passes defensed for the Orlando Apollos.

Big ups to @KeithReaser3 for being named @TheAAF Week 2 Defensive Player of the Week!

In his honor, we present Six Degrees of a Pick-Six.

#TakeAim | : https://t.co/mZHxg3l9PX pic.twitter.com/Dk5BZEq1nx

— Orlando Apollos (@aafAPOLLOS) February 19, 2019

The former 49ers cornerback is off to a strong start in the new league after struggling to get his NFL career off the ground. Through two games, he has four pass breakups and five tackles to go along with the interception returned for a touchdown. Pro Football Focus is offering grades of the AAF, and he ranks as the No. 1 cornerback in the league. He is tops in coverage and seventh in run defense.

The 49ers spent a fifth round pick on Reaser in 2014, and after he sat out his first year recovering from a torn ACL, he bounced in and out of the lineup over the next two seasons. He was cut early in the 2017 season, and after signing to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, he got some limited work at the end of the season. In 2018, he went on IR with a quad injury, but was released after an injury settlement. He did not sign anywhere else until joining the AAF.

Reaser has eight more regular season games, plus potential playoff games to build on his strong start. Given the continued development of the passing game in the NFL, quality cornerbacks can always find a job. It would not surprise me to see Reaser get another shot at training camp this summer. The quality of the AAF is not at the NFL level, but I have a feeling the NFL will be happy to build a player development relationship of some sort with the new league and open things by bringing the top performers into training camps.

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