49ers bring back Trent Taylor to reprise his role as punt returner, receiver
SANTA CLARA — A month ago, Trent Taylor was vacationing in the Caribbean with former 49ers teammates George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk, along with their respective wives. On Tuesday, Taylor officially signed up for a reunion with the 49ers organization as a whole.
Taylor spent his first four NFL seasons (2017-20) with the 49ers, who will look for him to reprise his role as a punt returner and slot receiver.
Complications from foot surgery sidelined him in 2019, and after a reduced role in 2020, Taylor left in free agency to play for the Cincinnati Bengals (2021-22) and Chicago Bears (2023).
He immediately becomes a prime candidate to replace Ray-Ray McCloud, the 49ers’ return specialist and No. 4 receiver the past two seasons who signed last month with the Atlanta Falcons. Other candidates to return punts and/or kicks are Ronnie Bell and Danny Gray.
The typically surehanded Taylor averaged 9.6 yards on 49 punt returns for the 49ers. Of his 79 receptions for 731 yards and three touchdowns, the brunt came his rookie year (43-430-2), highlighted by his overcoming the flu in Chicago to produce 92 yards and six catches on six targets in Jimmy Garoppolo’s victorious starting debut.
Taylor was a 2017 fifth-round pick — No. 177 overall, 31 spots after Kittle.
The 49ers are poised to return their top three wide receivers in Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings. However, Aiyuk’s status is in question while he awaits a market-rate contract extension after four seasons; Jennings drew a $4.9 million tender from the 49ers as a restricted free agents and Friday represents a deadline for other teams to sign him to an offer sheet.