Trent Taylor was having a good offseason last year before a foot injury derailed his 2019 hopes. The young receiver was working to follow up a season during which he felt limited following offseason back surgery. He was finally feeling healthy in 2019, and ready to show his coaches that he could be a difference-maker on the football field.
Then Taylor suffered a broken foot during an August practice, and after some complications, landed on season-ending injured reserve.
Before the injury, the 49ers coaching staff was high on Taylor's potential impact.
"Several S.F. coaches believed he was headed for a Pro Bowl campaign at this time a year ago," wrote Mike Silver of NFL Media, "and having former Patriots and Broncos star Wes Welker as his position coach and role model doesn't hurt."
Taylor is entering his fourth NFL season. He caught 26 receptions for 215 yards and a touchdown in 2018, which followed up a rookie campaign that saw him haul in a career-highs in receptions (43), receiving yards (430), and touchdowns (2).
In the feature for NFL.com, Silver picked the 49ers among the teams that can overcome an uncertain offseason impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. That's because they retained most of their coaching staff and starting roster. Plus, there is the infusion of players who were unavailable last season due to injuries—like Taylor, fellow wideout Jalen Hurd, and running back Jerick McKinnon.
"I'm aware that it's hard to get back to the Ultimate Game -- and the collective fate of Super Bowl losers in the past quarter-century has been worse than that of those that hoisted the Lombardi," added Silver. "Yet, the Niners looked like an ascending team throughout the 2019 regular season and playoffs, and even after surrendering that fourth-quarter lead against the Chiefs, they walked off that field in South Florida with every reason to believe they can compete for a title in 2020."