SF 49ers: 5 players who can now safely be called ‘busts’

No. 3: SF 49ers Wide Receiver Jalen Hurd

There’s probably a stubborn part of the Niners fanbase that thinks wide receiver Jalen Hurd is going to be a major contributor to the offense at some point.

Well, when?

Hurd, something of a surprise 2019 third-round selection, still has yet to play a regular-season snap at the NFL level. A serious back injury thwarted his rookie season, leading to a lot of hype and hope he’d be back and better than before entering this year. But then Hurd suffered a torn ACL during training camp, prematurely ending his sophomore year with San Francisco.

For those thinking Hurd still has something to offer, it’s important to recognize he only played one year at wide receiver in college after transitioning from running back after his transfer from Tennessee to Baylor. Right there, it’s impossible to overlook the sheer lack of experience at the position.

Missing the last two seasons because of injuries won’t do him any favors either.

The “what have you done for me lately?” nature of the NFL makes it easy for both teams and the league to pass players by, even if those players were subject to circumstances beyond their control. Such as injuries.

In Hurd’s case, the SF 49ers won’t hesitate to build their pass-catching room without Hurd in the fray, making many wish that 2019 draft selection would have been used on someone else.