49ers fear Hurd has torn ACL
There were several pertinent questions surrounding the 49ers’ wide receiver corps as training camp started last week.
Could Trent Taylor contribute after missing last season with a broken foot?
Could Dante Pettis bounce back from a disastrous second NFL season?
And could Jalen Hurd have an impact after missing his rookie season in 2019 with a back injury?
Unfortunately for the 49ers, who held their third practice Monday, they already have an answer to that last question: no.
Hurd, one of the intriguing wild cards in an unsettled position group, is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in practice Sunday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said. Shanahan spoke to reporters before results of an MRI exam were
available that were expected to confirm the initial diagnosis.
Shanahan, however, seemed certain the 49ers wouldn’t be receiving good news, saying Hurd would “be back next year.”
“It’s a pretty unfortunate thing for him,” Shanahan said. “We know what he went through last year with his back, and the guy has worked as hard as anyone on our team to get back.”
Last year, Hurd, a thirdround pick, participated in two preseason games before he was sidelined with a stress fracture in his lower back. After he was drafted, Hurd missed early practices because he was recovering from knee surgery for an injury he suffered in college.
On Sunday, Hurd was hurt again, even as the team was trying to guard against another injury. Hurd has been limited in the first two practices. On Sunday, he was injured while making a cut on a side field under the supervision of a member of the training staff.
Given his medical file, the 49ers weren’t counting on a big contribution from Hurd. But they had reason to believe it was possible given his impressive smallsamplesize performance last summer.
Despite playing just one season at wide receiver in college, the 6foot5, 230pound former running back made massive strides early in camp last year before his headturning debut: Hurd had three catches for 31 yards and scored touchdowns of 20 and 4 yards in the preseason opener.
However, his season ended after he played just eight snaps in the second exhibition game.
A year later, the second serious injury of his brief career means the 49ers have one less option at an inexperienced position group lacking many sure things.
The wide receiver corps figures to be headlined by Deebo Samuel, who currently is sidelined with a broken foot, firstround pick Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne.
After that? The candidates to assume supporting roles include Taylor, Pettis and rookie seventhround pick Jauan Jennings.
Of that trio, Jennings is most like Hurd, who was involved in two fights in his second trainingcamp practice last year because of his aggressive blocking. The hardrunning Jennings, 63 and 212 pounds, led drafteligible receivers by forcing 30 missed tackles last year while ranking fifth in the SEC in receiving yards. He slipped to the seventh round partly because of offthefield issues that included a socialmedia tirade against Tennessee’s coaching staff.
Shanahan termed Jennings a “decent comparison” to Hurd.
“He is big and he definitely has the mentality.” Shanahan said. “He’s got the talent, and he’s got the tenacity to go out there and do it.”
However, Shanahan noted Jennings was facing a unique challenge in his quest to get up to speed because he didn’t have the benefit of offseason practices, which also applies to Aiyuk.
If the rookies experience significant growing pains, the 49ers have recently added veterans to their youthful receiver corps. However, the signings of Tavon Austin, 30, and J.J. Nelson, 28, may not move the needle: The duo has combined for 32 receptions over the past two seasons.
Another bit of uncertainty involves Samuel’s health, as it’s not clear whether their top wideout option will be ready for the season opener on Sept. 13.