Kyle Shanahan on 49ers WR Jalen Hurd: “I know he’s one of our top six receivers”
Aug 27, 2021 at 2:08 PM
•
Wide receiver Jalen Hurd has not been able to stay healthy during his NFL career. He has yet to play in a regular-season game, spending 2019 and 2020 on injured reserve. Hurd hasn't played in a preseason game this year. However, that may change on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Hurd has participated in practices this week, and the San Francisco 49ers hope to finally get a good look at the former third-round pick this weekend.
"
We're excited about him," general manager John Lynch said this morning on KNBR. "I mean, we're holding on. He hasn't played in the first couple of years, but for good reason. He's had legitimate injuries. But he's been out there.
"We've had two really hard practices. And he's done a great job in them. And it would be a really good thing for our team if he could be out there. So we're pulling for him, and he's put in the work, and hopefully, he's there, because he makes us a better team, if he is."
RELATED 49ers' John Lynch not ready to give up on Jalen Hurd
Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters after today's practice and was told about Lynch's comments. The head coach was asked if he needs to see Hurd play well against the Raiders to make a more informed decision on the receiver's roster fate.
"I've seen Jalen when he's gone," Shanahan responded. "I know he's one of our top six receivers, so that's not an issue. That's how Dee Ford was last year. That's how [Jaquiski] Tartt is. We know they're one of our top guys at those positions, but it's such a scary thing and hard decision for the 53. And we have other guys there after those guys who are good and who could make this team and really help us."
RELATED Shanahan: 49ers WR Jalen Hurd could play this weekend against the Raiders
The 49ers much trim their roster down to 53 players by next Tuesday. That will mean cutting loose a lot of potential talent, and sometimes that can come back to bite you if you make the wrong decision. However, a player's availability has to be a factor too. After all, you can't contribute if you can't get onto the football field.
"But you've got to make sure guys are healthy enough to play through the year," Shanahan explained, "that they don't just get to Week 1 and only last a quarter-and-a-half, and then they've got another injury, and you're wishing you had another guy there, but he didn't make the 53 because of that.
"I mean, there's no right or wrong answer. That's just the challenge of it, and you try to get as much information as you can. Usually, if they can make it through a whole camp, they can make it through the season. But obviously, [players like Hurd] weren't in a situation where they could do that. That's the dilemma with going into camp hurt, and that's the stress of it for everybody; coaches, players, the 53-man roster. That's just part of it."
LISTEN
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Kyle Shanahan feels "really fortunate" with 49ers' QB room
Kyle Shanahan praises his quarterback room every year. Last season, the San Francisco 49ers went through three starting quarterbacks and still made it to the NFC Championship Game. Trey Lance was the Week 1 starter but suffered a season-ending ankle injury during his second game. Eleven weeks later, Jimmy Garoppolo sustained a broken foot.
That opened the door for rookie Brock Purdy to show his coaches and the NFL world that he belonged, despite being the last overall pick in the draft. Purdy guided the 49ers to eight consecutive wins before suffering a severe injury in that NFC title game matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Two of the quarterbacks from last season—Lance and Purdy—remain. Both are just 23 years old. They are joined by Sam
Christian McCaffrey calls Kyle Shanahan's 49ers scheme the "most sustainable" in the NFL
You've heard stories about San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan installing a play and breaking down exactly how he expects the defense to react. Then, when the players execute the play, everything occurs as the coach explained, as if he had a crystal ball to predict the outcome.
Shanahan is a confident play-caller, emphasizing execution by his players to ensure everything goes as planned. The 49ers acquired a big-time playmaker last season, trading for star running back Christian McCaffrey, who had already established himself as one of the most versatile players in the league.
Even McCaffrey marvels at the things his play-caller comes up
49ers OTAs: Brock Purdy may start throwing next week, Kyle Shanahan "pretty optimistic" about Week 1 return
On Tuesday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an update on Brock Purdy. The second-year quarterback underwent surgery on March 10 to repair the tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, an injury he suffered in the NFC Championship Game in January.
Purdy is recovering well. There have been no setbacks as the quarterback works his way to increasing his workload.
"He's doing good," Shanahan said of his quarterback's recovery. "Still staying the same. [He's] on schedule."
The 49ers always believed that Purdy would be able to start throwing a football again sometime in early June. That's next week. The good news is that nothing about that timeline has changed.
"I think he's allowed to throw sometime
Everything Kyle Shanahan, Brock Purdy, Trey Lance, and Sam Darnold said at 49ers OTAs
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks Brock Purdy, Trey Lance, and Sam Darnold spoke with reporters after Tuesday's practice, the second of organized team activities (OTAs). Here is everything they had to say.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan
WR Jauan Jennings was working on the side field, did he have any issues?
"He just had a little tightness. We're being safe with him. Same with [WR Brandon Aiyuk] B. A., both of them, same boat."
What's the thought process behind that last drill that you guys do? 11-on-11, no helmets.
"Just try to ease them into that. It's something that I never