SANTA CLARA — Patrick Taylor Jr. concedes there are occasions when he questioned if this present day would ever come.
“Certain times it crosses your mind,” Taylor mentioned. “But you have to stay consistent and disciplined to your process.”
Taylor is subsequent man up within the operating again room, with rookie Isaac Guerendo dominated out Friday earlier than the 49ers launched into a visit to Miami to face the Dolphins in a battle of 6-8 groups.
Additionally dominated out was left sort out Trent Williams (ankle). Listed as questionable have been edge rusher Nick Bosa (hip/indirect), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) and edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. (ankle).
In his fourth season and first with the 49ers, Taylor, 26, has performed in 44 video games. Counting fullback Kyle Juszczyk who opened a recreation in a single again set, Taylor is the fourth beginning operating again for the 49ers this season together with Jordan Mason, Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo.
In three seasons with Inexperienced Bay, Taylor performed in 34 video games with no begin and has caught within the NFL largely by his work on particular groups. He has 14 carries for 50 yards and a landing for the 49ers. For his profession, Taylor has 79 carries for 311 yards and two touchdowns.
Probably the most Taylor has ever carried the ball in a recreation was 11 occasions for 53 yards for Inexperienced Bay in opposition to the Detroit Lions in 2022.
It isn’t new territory for Shanahan, who has had 15 totally different operating backs begin video games within the common season or playoffs since becoming a member of the 49ers in 2017.
The primary was Carlos Hyde, who was adopted by Matt Breida, Alfred Morris, Jeff Wilson, Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert, Jerick McKinnon, Elijah Mitchell, Trey Sermon, Deebo Samuel, McCaffrey, Mason, Guerendo and Juszczyk.
Probably out there to again up Taylor are Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Israel Abanikanda, with the likelihood that Samuel might get snaps as a operating again as effectively.
“He’s been here since training camp, he’s done a real good job for us, played in this league before with Green Bay and when he’s gotten opportunities with us he’s run the ball well,” Shanahan mentioned of Taylor. “When he hasn’t run the ball, he’s helped on special teams. A big opportunity for him and I’m glad we got him.”
In school at Memphis, Taylor gained 2,884 yards on 536 profession carries with 36 touchdowns. He battled by a Lisfranc foot harm that led to him being undrafted.
Taylor attributes the 49ers’ means to plug and play operating backs successfully partly to the instruction of place coach Bobby Turner.
“He does a great job making sure we’re prepared going into a game and he has a lot of confidence in us to play well,” Taylor mentioned. “When we get out there, it’s just playing freely and not hesitating.”
BROCK’S CHIP
“He has a big a chip on his shoulder as any player I’ve been around,” Shanahan mentioned. “He was probably trying to answer a question and coming up with something to say to you guys.”
THE EMBREE INFLUENCE
Tight finish George Kittle stays indebted to Jon Embree, who coached tight ends for the 49ers from 2017 by 2021 and was his coach as a rookie fifth-round draft pick of Iowa.
In actual fact, Kittle mentioned he nonetheless will get pointers from Embree, who’s now Miami’s tight ends coach and assistant head coach beneath former 49ers’ assistant Mike McDaniel.
“I think coach Embree did a great job showing me the ropes, kind of throwing me a life vest, because I was a rookie,” Kittle mentioned. “I’ll get a random coaching point from him at 5 a.m. our time, 8 a.m. Miami time that says, `Your footwork was trash last week. You’ve got to fix your stance’ and I always appreciate those coaching points.”
JUICE LEADS FULLBACKS
Juszczyk is the one 49ers participant to guide fan balloting for the 2025 Professional Bowl Video games.
An eight-time Professional Bowler with the Baltimore Ravens and 49ers, Jusczyk is forward of Kansas Metropolis fullback Carson Steele.
Kittle is second amongst tight ends to Raiders’ rookie Brock Bowers (and first within the NFC), whereas edge rusher Nick Bosa and sort out Trent Williams are sixth of their respective positions. Linebacker Fred Warner is No. 7 amongst inside linebackers. Quarterback Brock Purdy shouldn’t be within the high 10.
The Professional Bowl groups are chosen by voting by the followers, gamers and coaches. No 49ers participant ranks within the High 10. There have been 9 49ers who ended up Professional Bowlers final yr — Bosa, Juszczyk, Williams, Kittle, McCaffrey, Warner, quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive sort out Javon Hargrave, Warner and cornerback Charvarius Ward.
