Jalen

Hurd

A third-round pick back in 2019, Hurd never played a regular-season snap for the 49ers. A serious back injury derailed his rookie season, and a torn ACL knocked him out last year. Hurd looked ready to return this season and even got snaps in the preseason, but another knee injury sent him to injured reserve prior to Week 1. 26 in January, it is not a given Hurd gets another shot.

Hurd’s knee has been acting up all summer. He was able to make the initial 53-man roster, but coach Kyle Shanahan already hinted I.R. was likely for Hurd. He’ll miss at least the first three games of the season.

This was expected after coach Kyle Shanahan said the team planned to “shut down” Hurd after his latest knee injury. The 49ers are holding off placing Hurd on IR for now. Hurd, a 2019 third-rounder, has yet appear in an NFL game and may open the year as a weekly inactive when healthy.

Hurd battled knee issues during the summer, missing the first two preseason games, but he was able to play in the finale and caught four passes. It was enough for the Niners to keep him on the 53-man roster after two lost seasons previously. Hurd is now a candidate for injured reserve, which would cost him three games minimum. It’s still unknown if he’ll ever be a regular-season factor.

Hurd could be the odd man out among Niners wideouts next Sunday. Hurd has looked good in practice and the preseason, but the 49ers might opt to take it slow with him. Hurd has missed the past two seasons with injuries and has yet to play a single regular season snap. WR Jauan Jennings could potentially be the fifth wide receiver to suit up against Detroit, per Maiocco. Outside George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel, it’s unlikely auxiliary 49ers pass catchers will carry any fantasy value this season.

Hurd, a massive wide receiver drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, caught four passes for 25 yards in the Niners’ final preseason game against Vegas last weekend. Notably, he played with the starters. Hurd has yet to play a single regular season snaps after missing 2019 with a back injury and 2020 was an ACL tear. By all account, Hurd, 25, has looked good in practice and could find himself lining up with Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel in three-wideouts sets this season. Hurd converted to wideout after rushing more nearly 1,300 yards at Tennessee in 2015.

Hurd was in the game with the starting core, as the 49ers rotated through their wide receiver depth with the starters. He took an end around handoff for 2 yards and saw six targets from Trey Lance. He caught four passes for 25 yards, while dropping a wobbly deep target and a low ball over the middle. Kyle Shanahan has called Hurd on the the team’s top-six wide receivers, which gives him a good chance of making the team behind Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Trent Sherfield and Mohamed Sanu. Hurd looks to be competing with Jauan Jennings and Travis Benjamin to make the final roster.

He’s been dealing with knee tendinitis and has been in and out of practice the last couple weeks. He’s got to show something in the preseason finale this weekend if he wants to win a job.

Hurd was held out of team drills all week and is not expected to practice Friday. The 49ers hope Hurd will return next week, but the lost reps could pose a major challenge. Hurd was a highly intriguing prospect in 2019 with a versatile skill set and a 6'4", 230 pound frame. Due to back and knee injuries however, he has yet to play in a regular season game. It’s increasingly possible Hurd’s eventual debut is not with the 49ers.

Hurd “just didn’t feel right” Tuesday and worked off to the side. He’s back in team drills Wednesday and should see plenty of action this preseason after missing his first two seasons with injuries. The odds remain stacked against Hurd becoming an impact NFL player, but he is certainly on preseason DFS radars.