San Francisco 49ers: 5 injured players from 2019 who’ll make a difference in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Wide Receiver Trent Taylor
If Jalen Hurd’s inexperience and raw background cast some doubts, one should hope the 49ers get a much better return from one of their 2017 NFL Draft picks, slot receiver Trent Taylor.
Taylor was hindered by a back injury in 2018, then a Jones fracture in his foot held him out for the entirety of last season.
The last two years have been disappointing, yes. And San Francisco’s question marks at wide receiver won’t be completely solved by a fully healthy Taylor.
Yet when one considers the kind of impact Taylor had his rookie season, it’s not hard to see why fans can be at least somewhat excited about the small-but-potent wideout in 2020.
All one needs to do is remember the fact Taylor posted 19 third-down receptions for a first down in 2017, which was tied for ninth best among pass catchers that year and also tied for rookies, along with Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
Jimmy Garoppolo was also money on third-down attempts last season, completing 65 of his 130 attempts (50 percent) for a first down in this crucial spot.
Taylor was one of those offensive weapons who immediately created chemistry with Garoppolo following the former’s trade to San Francisco from the New England Patriots, and one can only figure those numbers will get a nice boost when Taylor comes back from injury.