After year away, Lloyd looks back in form
Even at his age, 49ers wide receiver Brandon Lloyd still has a flair for the acrobatic.
Lloyd, 33, who has been knownfor high-degree-of-difficulty catches throughout his 11-year career, did it again in a 22-17 win over Kansas City on Sunday. With the 49ers trailing 17-16 early in the fourth quarter, Lloyd skied over 6-foot-3 cornerback Sean Smith and hung— and hung— in the air to snare a 29yard pass from Colin Kaepernick.
“Itwas probably the highest vertical I’ve ever seen an NFL player jump inmy life,” left tackle Joe Staley said. “It just seemed like he kept going on up. Itwas unbelievable. Itwas straight-up unbelievable.”
The catch did more than make the highlight reel. It set up the 49ers at Kansas City’s 39-yard line, led to Phil Dawson’s go-ahead field goal and offered compelling evidence that Lloyd is still a capable wide receiver after electing to sit out the 2013 season. He had three catches, including a 38yarder, and finished with a game-high 76 yards. He entered the game with three catches for 33 yards this season.
“He’s been talking to me saying thatwe need to take a shot and he’s going to go up and get it,” Kaepernick said. “At some point, you’ve got to trust him and give him a a chance.”
In addition to his athleticism, Lloyd has maintained his enigmatic personality. Asked if he wondered if he possessed the same ability after not playing in 2013, he responded curtly: “I don’t have an answer for that.” Still kicking: Lloyd and 31-year-old running back Frank Gore (107 yards) weren’t the only older players getting it done: Kicker Phil Dawson, 39, had field goals of 55 and 52 yards to highlight a 5-for-5 performance.
“No expiration date on Phil Dawson,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Let’s put that down. There is no expiration date on Mr. Phil Dawson.”
Indeed, Dawson has only improved with age. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2012 with the Browns and has made 21 of 24 field-goal tries from 50-plus yards since 2011. In his first 12 seasons, he made 10 of 19 such attempts.
Dawson was in the interview room when Harbaugh said he could look in the mirror and say: “I’m Phil Dawson. I’ma football player.”
Asked about that statement, Dawson quipped: “At 39 years old, I don’t enjoy looking in the mirror verymuch. I’ll pretend to be a football player without looking in the mirror.” Martin vs. Houston: On paper, it resembled a mismatch: 49ers backup right tackle Jonathan Martin against K.C. outside linebacker Justin Houston, who entered tied for the NFL lead in sacks (5).
Houston, a two-time Pro Bowler, did have a third-quarter sack, but otherwise wasn’t disruptive in a four-tackle game that didn’t include another hit on Kaepernick.
“I think I did solid,” Martin said. “I got beat a couple times, but that happens, though, against a player like him. He’s a heck of a player having a career season.”
Martin subbed for Anthony Davis, who was inactive with knee and ankle injuries. Tight end Vernon Davis (back) was also inactive. The 49ers had been 0-2 and had been outscored 50-21 when Vernon Davis hadn’t played since 2013.