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Patrick Taylor Patrick Taylor Favorite to replace Guerendo
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 4:02 PM
Taylor is preparing for a larger role with fellow running back Isaac Guerendo (hamstring/foot) ruled out for Sunday's game at Miami, 95.7 The Game reports.
Analysis: Taylor briefly handled the lead role when Guerendo suffered a foot injury in the second half of a 38-13 win over Chicago in Week 14. Taylor played 10 consecutive snaps right after Guerendo's early exit, taking six carries for 18 yards and a TD in that span, before the 49ers pulled a bunch of starters in garbage time and let Ke'Shawn Vaughn take the final two carries. Guerendo made it back for Week 15 to take 75 percent of snaps and all 20 RB touches, but he injured his hamstring along the way and now will miss at least one week, leaving Taylor, Vaughn (practice squad) and Israel Abanikanda as the healthy RBs for an offense that's typically been extremely friendly to the position. Of course, this year's version of the San Francisco offense hasn't been nearly as powerful as the pre-2024 version, and star left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) will join Guerendo on the inactive list ahead of Sunday's road matchup with a solid Miami defense. |
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Isaac Guerendo Isaac Guerendo Ruled out for Week 16
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 3:20 PM
Guerendo (foot/hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Miami, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: Guerendo didn't practice this week and thus appears in danger of missing time beyond Sunday. His absence leaves Patrick Taylor and Israel Abanikanda atop the depth chart at running back, with Ke'Shawn Vaughn likely to be elevated from the practice squad before Sunday. Taylor filled in as the lead back when Guerendo missed a chunk of San Francisco's Week 14 game with a foot injury, but that doesn't necessarily mean Taylor will dominate carries Sunday afternoon with more time to prepare for Guerendo's absence. |
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Isaac Guerendo Isaac Guerendo Trending in wrong direction
Thu, Dec 19, 2024, 11:10 AM
The 49ers are not expected to have Guerendo (hamstring) available for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Guerendo missed Wednesday's practice session due to a new hamstring injury, and Schefter's reporting makes it seem as though he'll be officially listed as a non-participant again Thursday. The rookie fourth-round pick managed to play through a foot sprain during last Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Rams, in which he rushed 16 times for 57 yards and brought in all four targets for 18 yards, handling all of San Francisco's running back touches. Head coach Kyle Shanahan hasn't yet commented on Guerendo's status for Week 16, but if he's indeed sidelined on the road against Miami, Patrick Taylor, Israel Abanikanda and practice-squad player Ke'Shawn Vaughn will be next up for backfield reps. |
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Isaac Guerendo Isaac Guerendo Sidelined with hamstring injury
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 1:49 PM
Guerendo will not practice Wednesday due to foot and hamstring injuries, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
Analysis: Guerendo played through a foot sprain in last Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Rams, and though he didn't experience any reported in-game setbacks with that injury, he's emerged from the contest with a new health concern. With Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) both on injured reserve, the 49ers could realistically be taking a cautious approach to Guerendo's health, but his activity will now need to be monitored during practices Thursday and Friday. Patrick Taylor, Israel Abanikanda and practice-squad member Ke'Shawn Vaughn, are San Francisco's available backfield options behind Guerendo heading into a road matchup against the Dolphins on Sunday. |
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Kyle Juszczyk Kyle Juszczyk No touches in Week 15
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 10:48 AM
Juszczyk played 27 of the 49ers' 54 snaps on offense and went without a carry or target in Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Rams.
Analysis: Though he's seen a slight uptick in snaps over the past two games with both Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) out for the season, Juszczyk hasn't benefited from a usage standpoint. The veteran fullback has managed just one touch (a three-yard reception) in those two games while rookie Isaac Guerendo has dominated the opportunities out of the backfield. For the season, Juszczyk has carried four times for 20 yards and a touchdown to go with 15 receptions for 122 yards on 23 targets over 14 games. |
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Chris Conley Chris Conley Limited to three snaps on offense
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 10:41 AM
Conley went without a target while playing three of the 49ers' 54 snaps on offense in Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Rams.
Analysis: Conley has suited up for each of the 49ers' last five games but has drawn just one target over that stretch. Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall are entrenched as the 49ers' preferred three-receiver set, and rookie Jacob Cowing (four snaps on offense in Week 15) could be threatening Conley for the No. 4 spot on the depth chart. |
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Jacob Cowing Jacob Cowing Struggling to find role on offense
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 10:38 AM
Cowing returned five punts for 51 yards and went without a target while playing four of the 49ers' 54 snaps on offense in Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Rams.
Analysis: The rookie fourth-round pick out of Arizona has been serving as the 49ers' top punt returner throughout the season, but he's struggled to find a role on offense even while Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall have missed multiple games due to injuries. Though Aiyuk is out for the season, Jennings and Pearsall have been healthy for several weeks now and, along with Deebo Samuel, are continuing to work comfortably ahead of Cowing at receiver. Cowing has recorded just two catches for 50 yards on four targets while playing just 39 snaps on offense all season. |
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Brayden Willis Brayden Willis No snaps on offense in Week 15
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 10:30 AM
Willis played all 20 of his snaps on special teams in Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Rams.
Analysis: The 49ers kept four tight ends active Thursday, but only two (George Kittle and Eric Saubert) saw snaps on offense, while Willis and Jake Tonges were limited to special-teams roles. Willis has suited up in seven games this season but has played just 10 total snaps on offense. |
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Eric Saubert Eric Saubert No targets in Week 15
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 10:26 AM
Saubert played 17 of the 49ers' 54 snaps on offense and went without a target in Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Rams.
Analysis: Since playing a season-high 55 snaps in a Week 11 loss to the Seahawks while starting in place of the injured George Kittle, Saubert's role on offense has predictably been scaled back in recent weeks. While Kittle has suited up in each of the ensuing four contests, Saubert has drawn just two total targets and has played less than one-third of the offensive snaps in every game. |
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Jake Tonges Jake Tonges No targets through 14 games
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 10:22 AM
Tonges played all 14 of his snaps on special teams in Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Rams.
Analysis: Tonges has suited up for all 14 of the 49ers' games, but the reserve tight end has yet to draw a target. He's seen the overwhelming majority of his playing time on special teams, as he's logged just 30 snaps on offense all season. |
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Ricky Pearsall Ricky Pearsall Struggles with four targets
Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 2:45 PM
Pearsall had one reception (on four targets) for 16 yards in Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Rams.
Analysis: Pearsall saw his highest target total since Week 10 (4-73-1 on six targets), but he was able to generate only one reception off the increased workload. The 49ers offense stalled as an entire unit, so it's hard to put the blame for Thursday's anemic offensive output on the rookie. With San Francisco all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the team may opt to get a better look at Pearsall against Miami on Sunday, Dec. 22. |
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Patrick Taylor Patrick Taylor No touches Thursday
Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 2:29 PM
Taylor was on the field for three offensive snaps (six percent) and did not record a touch in Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Rams.
Analysis: Taylor had an outside chance of starting Thursday's contest after fill-in starter Issac Guerendo missed multiple practices with a foot injury. The latter got a limited session in Wednesday before ultimately starting and logging 16 carries for 57 yards in the loss. Taylor did not record a touch while spending most of his night on special teams (17 snaps). With a few extra days of rest between Thursday's loss and next Sunday's tilt against Miami, Guerendo figures to start again for the 6-8 49ers in Week 16. |
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Jauan Jennings Jauan Jennings Highly inefficient in loss
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 11:22 PM
Jennings secured two of nine targets for 31 yards in the 49ers' 12-6 loss to the Rams on Thursday night.
Analysis: Just four days after bringing in seven of eight targets against the Bears -- a pair of touchdown grabs among them -- Jennings saw a team-high target total in Thursday's rainy conditions but was highly inefficient. The veteran wideout entered Thursday with a solid 73.1 percent catch rate on the season, and his struggles led to his lowest yardage total since Week 6. Jennings will aim to bounce back against a talented Dolphins secondary in a Week 16 road interconference battle on Sunday, Dec. 22. |
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George Kittle George Kittle Team-high yardage total in loss
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 11:04 PM
Kittle secured four of seven targets for 61 yards in the 49ers' 12-6 loss to the Rams on Thursday night.
Analysis: Kittle co-led the 49ers in receptions while comfortably setting the pace in receiving yards. While the talented tight end's performance was nowhere near the caliber of the season-best 151-yard effort he put up against the Bears in Week 14, he's now eclipsed 60 receiving yards in five of the last seven contests heading into a Week 16 road matchup against the Dolphins on Sunday, Dec. 22. |
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Isaac Guerendo Isaac Guerendo Garners 75 total yards in loss
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 10:55 PM
Guerendo rushed 16 times for 57 yards and brought in all four targets for 18 yards in the 49ers' 12-6 loss to the Rams on Thursday night.
Analysis: Guerendo overcame the foot sprain he'd suffered in the Week 14 win over the Bears on Sunday to suit up and handle all of San Francisco's running back touches. However, the rookie surprisingly found some tough sledding against a Rams defense that had been beatable on the ground at times. Nevertheless, Guerendo impressively handled a solid workload in wet conditions and finished as the co-leader in receptions as well, and he'll have a secure fantasy floor as the clear lead back when the 49ers travel to face the Dolphins on Sunday, Dec. 22. |
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Brock Purdy Brock Purdy Miserable showing in loss
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 10:52 PM
Purdy completed 14 of 31 passes for 142 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and rushed once for three yards in the 49ers' 12-6 loss to the Rams on Thursday night.
Analysis: Purdy was able to engineer a short 39-yard drive on the 49ers' second possession that culminated in a field goal, but San Francisco punted the other six times it had the ball in the first half. After another modest 34-yard march that led to three more points to open the second half, Purdy scuffled throughout most of the rest of the contest and also threw an interception at the Rams' goal line on a deep shot to Jauan Jennings with just over five minutes remaining in the game. The Rams would subsequently embark on a marathon 13-play drive that left Purdy with just 11 seconds to try and get the 50 yards necessary for a potential game-winning score, but he threw incomplete and took a sack on the final two plays. Purdy has now thrown for 159 yards or fewer in three of his past four games heading into a Week 16 road trip to face the Dolphins on Sunday, Dec. 22. |
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Israel Abanikanda Israel Abanikanda Inactive Thursday
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 6:30 PM
Abanikanda (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's matchup with the Rams, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
Analysis: The running back was claimed off waivers by the 49ers on Dec. 3 with Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) both injured. Both remain on injured reserve, but Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor and Ke'Shawn Vaughn are San Francisco's active running backs for Thursday night. Abanikanda was inactive for each of the 12 games that he spent with the Jets this season before being waived. |
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Joshua Dobbs Joshua Dobbs Playing emergency role again
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 6:08 PM
Dobbs (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday night's game against the Rams, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Dobbs is serving as the emergency third quarterback behind starter Brock Purdy and backup Brandon Allen, meaning he can't enter the game unless Purdy and Allen exit the game due to either injury or disqualification. The former Viking has yet to appear in a game this season, and he has been playing the emergency role for much of the campaign. |
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Patrick Taylor Patrick Taylor Week 15 role TBD
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 6:05 PM
Taylor may not start Thursday versus the Rams with Isaac Guerendo (foot) active for the contest.
Analysis: If Guerendo wasn't able to play Week 15, Taylor was lined up to be the 49ers' primary runner for at least one game. Having said that, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Guerendo felt good following Wednesday's limited practice, which was enough for the team to clear him. Taylor likely will cede a majority share of touches if Guerendo indeed is able to start, but the former still will be in the mix for snaps along with practice-squad call-up Ke'Shawn Vaughn. In nine appearances this season, Taylor has tallied 14 carries for 50 yards and one TD and gathered in one of two targets for 12 yards. |
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Isaac Guerendo Isaac Guerendo Active in Week 15
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 5:49 PM
Guerendo (foot) is listed as active Thursday against the Rams, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
Analysis: Guerendo came out of this past Sunday's win versus the Bears with a sprained foot, which left his status for Week 15 up in the air. He wasn't able to practice until Wednesday, when he was listed as limited, and both Adam Schefter of ESPN and Matt Barrows of The Athletic reported at different points Thursday that Guerendo felt good following that session and intended to play. Indeed, that has come to pass, but it remains to be seen if Guerendo will handle the majority of backfield reps for the 49ers. Patrick Taylor and Ke'Shawn Vaughn also are on hand for work at running back. |
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