With the NFL unveiling its 2025 schedule on Wednesday, San Francisco 49ers fans are already looking forward to the regular season, which starts September 7 against the Seattle Seahawks in the Pacific-Northwest.
However, before we can look ahead to Week 1, the 49ers still have to go through a few more stages, like OTAs, mandatory minicamp, training camp, and preseason.
San Francisco will cut down its roster from 90 to 53 players over the next few months, as it tries to rebound from a disappointing 2024 season. Nonetheless, a few veterans and rookies will not make the final cut in late August.
One player in particular is veteran running back Patrick Taylor, who could be on the chopping block when training camp opens up. The 49ers re-signed the 27-year-old running back to a one-year deal.
Taylor is a part of a crowded San Francisco backfield that features star Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo, fifth-round pick Jordan James, Israel Abanikanda, and undrafted free agent Corey Kiner.
The 49ers surprisingly traded Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings, but they made sure to fill his void with the selection of James in the 2025 NFL Draft. With a healthy McCaffrey, plus two young running backs (Guerendo and James), the optics don’t look great for Taylor.
Last season, Taylor appeared in 13 games and made one start in Week 16 as San Francisco’s backfield was decimated by injury. The veteran running back racked up 183 yards and a TD on 39 carries.
Most of Taylor’s yards came in the 49ers’ regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, where he erupted for 109 yards on 17 carries. Despite this performance in his first year with the team, the 49ers added more firepower to their backfield in the draft and afterwards.
Taylor doesn’t have the same skills as James, Guerendo, or McCaffrey. However, he does play special teams, which is an easy way to make the 53-man roster as the RB4.
If the 49ers didn’t employ a fullback in their offensive scheme, Taylor would have an easier path to making the team out of training camp. Therefore, the 49ers could cut Taylor before Week 1 and try to get him back on the practice squad, which could be another way to keep him inside the organization.
Regardless, the RB3 battle should be interesting as multiple guys compete for a roster spot in San Francisco or elsewhere.