49ers shift wide receiver to injured reserve, sign tackle Sam Young
Wide receiver Trent Taylor went on the 49ers injured reserve list Friday so they could make a roster spot for offensive tackle Sam Young.
SANTA CLARA — Trent Taylor won’t be seen among the 49ers wide receiver corps until mid-November, at the earliest, after getting placed Friday on injured reserve.
“The way I’ll keep working, I’m confident I’ll come back as a difference maker,” Taylor said.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers intend to designate Taylor as one of their two allowable short-term IR players, so he could return to practice in six weeks (ahead of an Oct. 31 visit to Arizona) and play in a game as early as Nov. 17 against the Cardinals.
Taylor, out the first two games because of Aug. 9 foot surgery, was deemed expendable so the 49ers could use his roster spot on a backup offensive tackle, Sam Young, whom Shanahan said likely will not be active for Sunday’s home opener.
Taylor had “too many flare ups” in his recovery regarding soft-tissue soreness, said Shanahan, noting that Taylor had “the best camp” of any offensive player. On Taylor’s final play of training camp, he caught a touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo.
“Nothing happened on the play, but (the right foot) continued to bother me through camp, and I decided to have it looked at,” Taylor said.
Tight end George Kittle, Taylor’s closest friend on the team, also said Taylor had the best training camp on offense. “When you lose one piece of the puzzle, it hurts, but we’ve got others stepping up now,” Kittle said. “Now, with more time, he’ll come back better than 110 percent.”
Taylor underwent surgery on a Jones’ fracture Aug. 9. He closed his 2017 rookie season as one of Jimmy Garoppolo’s most trusted targets, but offseason back surgery last summer hindered his 2018 production.
Richie James has filled Taylor’s role as the slot receiver in multiple-receiver sets. James has caught just one pass in each game, but that included a 39-yard touchdown reception in the season opener and Jimmy Garoppolo seems to have encouraging chemistry with the 5-foot-9, second-year receiver.
Jalen Hurd also figures to play as an inside, slot receiver once he’s cleared from an unspecified back injury that’s sidelined him the past month.
The 49ers had been carrying seven wide receivers on their 53-man roster, a surplus that proved too bloated amid recent injuries at other positions.
FOUR RULED OUT
As expected, the 49ers ruled out Staley (fibula), Hurd (back) and running back Tevin Coleman (ankle). Shanahan said the 49ers are still planning on Coleman and Hurd to return after next week’s bye.
Listed as questionable are defensive ends Nick Bosa and Dee Ford, and safeties Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward.
Ford took part in Friday’s walk-through practice. He was out the past two days because of a persisting knee issue that also forced him to miss the second half of Sunday’s win at Cincinnati.
Ward said the 49ers’ medical staff ultimately will determine when he can make his season debut. He practiced the past two weeks with a cast over his surgically repaired his right ring finger, and he was shooting baskets in the locker room Friday.
YOUNG’S RETURN
Young, a 10th-eyar veteran, re-signed on a one-year deal. He originally joined the 49ers Aug. 12 following a season-ending injury to backup tackle Shon Coleman but Young was among the 49ers cuts Aug. 30.
Young, wearing former guard Joshua Garnett’s No. 65, figured to back up rookie Justin Skule in Sunday’s home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But if Young is inactive, then Daniel Brunskill could suit up for the first time. Skule replaces Joe Staley, who is out six to eight weeks with a fractured fibula, and the 49ers are hoping for a shorter recovery, hence Staley did not go on injured reserve.
STEELERS RULE OUT TRIO
Fullback Roosevelt Nix (knee), linebacker Vince Williams (hamstring) and linebacker Anthony Chickillo (foot) will not play for the Steelers. Nix is their special teams captain.
Running back James Conner will play despite a knee injury that kept him out of Wednesday practice.
Cornerback Joe Haden (shoulder) practiced in full Friday after missing the previous two days. Former 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (back) and linebacker Bud Dupree (ankle) also are expected to play.
Ben Roethlisberger’s season is over because of an elbow injury so Mason Rudloph will make his first career start as Steelers quarterback.
The Steelers have lost nine of their past 11 visits to the West Coast since 2003, and they are 19-39 (.328) overall when playing at the 49ers, Raiders, Rams, Chargers and Seahawks.