With the news that the San Francisco 49ers lost wide receiver Skyy Moore in free agency, the Niners now have to figure out who will return kicks and punts for them next season.
While there are some interesting internal options, maybe bringing back a veteran would be a nice insurance policy to have.
Fans could be forgiven for forgetting that wide receiver Trent Taylor was technically on the 49ers last season. San Francisco brought him back ahead of the 2024 season, and he actually saw some playing time, recording one catch for 11 yards, although he spent most of the season on the practice squad.
He was under contract with the 49ers in 2025 as well, but in June, he was placed on injured reserve and was ruled out for the season. That did not stop him from attending San Jose Sharks games with his teammates or from taking a trip to Mexico recently.
Clearly he is close with a number of guys on the roster even if he does not get a ton of playing time anymore.
Taylor is now a free agent, and there probably will not be a ton of teams stumbling over themselves to sign him. The Niners could get him back for an affordable price and could get a nice insurance policy in the kick- and punt-return game in the process.
Taylor was a punt returner with the 49ers back in 2017, 2018, and 2020. He averaged a little under 10 yards per punt return and continued that role in his time with the Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears.
He has never been an elite punt returner by any stretch, but he has been solid. That's all head coach Kyle Shanahan really wants in the punt return game.
The former fifth-round pick would certainly not be the top option to return punts next season, but he is at least a viable option if other guys do not work out.
The 49ers may try out young options like Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins, and Junior Bergen next season. One of them will probably pan out, but the Niners have a history of young wide receivers muffing punts, so maybe a more experienced option would be superior.
Taylor just seems like the kind of player who will somehow remain with the Niners for years even if he never really plays, so it would make sense for San Francisco to have him on the practice squad as a depth piece.