49ers depth chart: 3 formerly injured players who are X-factors in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers Wide Receiver Trent Taylor
One might think about putting second-year wide receiver Jalen Hurd on this list, too, but let’s pump the breaks a bit. After all, Hurd is still relatively new to the position and hasn’t played a regular-season down at the pro level.
Instead, during his rookie 2017 season, all signs were pointing to slot wide receiver Trent Taylor being a vital part to San Francisco’s offense. And things certainly clicked between the former Louisiana Tech standout and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, too.
By year’s end, Taylor had amassed 430 receiving yards on 43 catches with two touchdowns. But the more impressive note was Taylor grabbing 19 third-down catches and turning them into first downs, which ranked ninth best in the league among all pass catchers that year. It was tied for first among rookies, too.
When paired with Garoppolo’s own third-down prowess last year — a 101.9 passer rating on this crucial down — one can imagine how Taylor’s presence could do wonders for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense moving forward.
The problem, though, was Taylor dealing with a back injury for much of 2018. During training camp the following year, Taylor was looking to be a bona fide weapon before suffering a serious foot injury that landed him on IR and required multiple surgeries.
Entering 2020, Taylor looks to be back to his usual form and is working with Garoppolo once again.
If that chemistry from late in 2017 resumes where it left off, one should expect good things from this tandem once more.