Fans got excited about Jalen Hurd's potential after watching him in a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys during his rookie season. We're still talking about his potential two years later because that exhibition matchup was the only time Hurd got onto the football field.
The third-year San Francisco 49ers receiver has had unfortunate luck with injuries. A stress fracture in his back after that game against the Cowboys landed him on injured reserve in 2019. He spent the next season on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL.
Time is running out for Hurd. At least, that is the impression the coaching staff is giving. The team has been carefully ramping up the 6-foot-5 receiver's workload, easing him back into training camp practices. However, on Tuesday morning, another setback emerged.
"He just didn't feel right this morning," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters.
So the 49ers held him out of practice. That's not good news for a receiver who may be fighting for a roster spot at this point. The team may eventually decide enough is enough, and it's time to cut its losses. It already had to make that decision with another Day 2 wide receiver draft pick, Dante Pettis, who never panned out.
Shanahan admitted that Hurd's absence from practices hurts his chances of remaining in red and gold.
"I know he's battling back from a serious injury," Shanahan said, "and we know the potential he has and the upside and how much we think he can help us, but he's got to show that. And there's not a lot of time left. But we want to be smart with him.
"I know some things were bothering him today, so we were smart with him. Hopefully, he can get in a grove where he has a chance to go out there and play some football and give himself a chance to make this team."
The 49ers only have three preseason games (reduced from four) to evaluate players, thanks to the NFL adding a 17th regular-season game. The team still believes in Hurd's potential, but if the receiver can't get onto the football field soon, there will be nothing more to evaluate.
"He's a smart guy, and he understands the plays and all that stuff," wide receivers coach Wes Welker said of Hurd this week, per ESPN. "But you can know it all you want. If you don't practice, it's just really hard to make our football team."
Hurd was one of the many players to watch when training camp opened. Now, he may end up being a player who leaves fans wondering what could have been.
