Matt Maiocco talked to George Kittle about his recovery from a broken bone in his foot. The 49ers’ tight end hinted that he’s close to getting back on the football field and hopes to play before the season ends.
Quarterback Nick Mullens finished answering the final question during a Zoom call with Bay Area reporters on Thursday, but he had more to say.
Mullens wished to deliver a message about a 49ers teammate before he left to attend the team's first practice since moving their operation indefinitely to Glendale, Arizona.
Mullens publicly expressed his appreciation for 49ers cornerback Jamar Taylor, who sustained a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee on Sunday when Los Angeles Rams running back Malcolm Brown blocked him.
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“Just prayers and shout-out to him,” Mullen said of Taylor. “I really only say this because he’s a silent guy. He did not talk a lot in the locker room. But (I) just asked him about his journey through when he first got here in camp, eight years and he’s a guy who’s earned everything he’s gotten in this league.
“I got a lot of respect for (him). And to see him do his job and fill in the way he did, those are the guys you respect in the locker room.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIOiB1YDmTvTaylor, 30, entered the NFL in 2013 as a second-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins. He also appeared in games with the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons during his first seven seasons before signing with the 49ers in the offseason.
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Taylor was among the 49ers’ final cuts before the start of the regular season. But he was signed to the practice squad on Oct. 2, and ended up appearing in eight games. He started three games at nickel back with K’Waun Williams out.
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Taylor had two interceptions and a sack and 22 tackles while filling in admirably.
“I had a lot of respect for Jamar,” Mullens said. “It was really tough to see him get hurt the way he did. With the type of guy that he is, I know that he’s going to battle back as strong as ever.
“So I got a lot of respect for Jamar, and I wanted people to know how much of a veteran and silent leader he was on this team.”
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