The 49ers' next man up at running back is Patrick Taylor Jr. against Miami

SANTA CLARA – Patrick Taylor Jr. admits there have been times when he wondered if at the present time would ever come.

“Sometimes it comes to mind,” Taylor said. “But you have to stay consistent and disciplined with your process.”

Taylor is the following man up within the running back room with rookie Isaac Guerendo out Friday before the 49ers travel to Miami to face the Dolphins in a battle of 6-8 teams.

Left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) was also ruled out. Listed as questionable were edge rusher Nick Bosa (hip/oblique), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) and edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. (ankle).

In his fourth season and his first with the 49ers, the 26-year-old Taylor has played in 44 games. Along with fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who opened a game on a single back set, Taylor is the 49ers' fourth running back this season, including Jordan Mason, Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo.

In three seasons with Green Bay, Taylor played 34 games without starting and remained within the NFL primarily through his work on special teams. He has 14 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown for the 49ers. Over the course of his profession, Taylor caught 79 carries for 311 yards and two touchdowns.

The most Taylor has ever moved the ball in a game was 11 times for 53 yards for Green Bay against the Detroit Lions in 2022.

It's not recent territory for Shanahan, who has played 15 different starting running backs within the regular season or playoffs since joining the 49ers in 2017.

The first was Carlos Hyde, followed by Matt Breida, Alfred Morris, Jeff Wilson, Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert, Jerick McKinnon, Elijah Mitchell, Trey Sermon, Deebo Samuel, McCaffrey, Mason, Guerendo and Juszczyk.

Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Israel Abanikanda could also be available to support Taylor, with the chance that Samuel is also used at running back.

“He's been here since training camp, he's done a really good job for us, played in this league before with Green Bay and when he got opportunities with us he ran the ball well,” Shanahan said of Taylor. “When he’s not running the ball, he helps on special teams. A great opportunity for him and I’m glad we got him.”

In college at Memphis, Taylor rushed for two,884 yards on 536 carries and 36 touchdowns. He battled a Lisfranc foot injury that caused him to go undrafted.

Taylor attributes the 49ers' ability to have interaction and play running backs effectively partially to the direction of position coach Bobby Turner.

“He does a great job making sure we go into a game prepared and he has a lot of confidence in us that we will play well,” Taylor said. “When we’re out there, it’s just about playing freely and not hesitating.”

BROCK'S CHIP

Quarterback Brock Purdy's revelation that he'll should play with a chip on his shoulder again was news to Shanahan.

“He has a great challenge like every other player I’ve been with,” Shanahan said. “He was probably trying to answer a question and think of something to say to you.”

THE EMBREE INFLUENCE

Tight end George Kittle stays indebted to Jon Embree, who coached tight ends for the 49ers from 2017 to 2021 and was his coach as a rookie fifth-round draft select of Iowa.

In fact, Kittle said he's still getting pointers from Embree, who’s now Miami's tight ends coach and associate head coach under former 49ers assistant Mike McDaniel.

“I think coach Embree did a great job of showing me the basics and throwing me a life jacket because I was a freshman,” Kittle said. “At 5 a.m. our time, 8 a.m. Miami time, I get a random coaching point from him that says, 'Your footwork was garbage last week.' “You have to change your attitude,” and I always appreciate those coaching points.”

JUICE LEADS THE FIDE DEFENSE

Juszczyk is the one 49ers player to steer the fan vote for the 2025 Pro Bowl games.

Jusczyk is an eight-time Pro Bowler with the Baltimore Ravens and 49ers, rating ahead of Kansas City fullback Carson Steele.

Kittle is second amongst tight ends behind Raiders rookie Brock Bowers (and first within the NFC), while edge rusher Nick Bosa and tackle Trent Williams are sixth at their respective positions. Linebacker Fred Warner is the No. 7 ranked inside linebacker. Quarterback Brock Purdy is just not in the highest 10.

Pro Bowl teams are chosen through voting by fans, players and coaches. No 49ers player is ranked in the highest 10. There were nine 49ers who became Pro Bowlers last yr – Bosa, Juszczyk, Williams, Kittle, McCaffrey, Warner, quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, Warner and cornerback Charvarius Ward.

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