The San Francisco 49ers began training camp this week and looked much different than they did one year ago. Every team has some level of turnover during the offseason, but the 49ers hit an extra gear, saying goodbye to some of the key pillars of their recent run of success and ushering a new era this season.
But traditionally, a key area of change has been the running back position. It’s hard to go an offseason without hearing a story about Kyle Shanahan pounding his fist on the table for a new back during the draft, and this year, San Francisco added fifth-round pick Jordan James to pair with Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo.
The 49ers learned you can’t have too many running backs after McCaffrey missed most of last season due to injury. But the recent moves may have put one veteran on the chopping block as he reports to camp.
49ers RB Patrick Taylor Jr. Must Earn His Spot During Training Camp
Patrick Taylor Jr. spent his first season with the 49ers in 2024, but it could be his last if he can’t show value at the beginning of training camp.
Taylor was a UDFA signing for the Green Bay Packers and spent his first three seasons in a backup role, totaling 261 rushing yards on 65 attempts. While he also had a brief stay on the New England Patriots practice squad in 2023, he joined the 49ers last season and carried the ball 39 times for 183 yards and a touchdown.
That production probably wasn’t something San Francisco banked on, as McCaffrey, Jordan Mason, and Guerendo all spent time on the injured list. But it also doesn’t seem to be something the 49ers are counting on this year after adding James. It presents a position that many players have entering camp. While they’ve trained at a natural position, they need to find a way to survive.
For Taylor, that might be in the kick return game. Taylor enters camp as the 49ers' primary kick returner ahead of Guerendo, but he has limited experience with four returns for 104 yards last season. There’s also the chance that Taylor could beat out James, but that seems unlikely with general manager John Lynch’s comments after the draft.
“We’re fired up on Jordan,” Lynch said. “This was a really strong running back class. There was a lot of depth to it. I think there was a feeling amongst teams that it was such a deep class, we can wait. And there was a group of guys and we had him a certain grade and we were pleased that he was still there. And a powerful back. Runs through tackles, has not necessarily tremendous top-end speed, but he’s got dart and burst.”
Those comments make it seem like Taylor won’t be part of the roster unless he can find a way to stand out in the return game. If that’s the case, his days in San Francisco could be numbered, and make training camp even more important for the Memphis standout.