Running back Isaac Guerendo was eager to get back on the field last Friday night in the preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders after missing most of training camp with a hamstring injury. The San Francisco 49ers, impressed by his speed, selected him out of Louisville with a fourth-round draft pick. Guerendo showed off that speed against the Raiders with a 93-yard return on special teams.
Isaac Guerendo takes the kickoff back 93 yards!
It's longest dynamic kickoff return of the preseason.
📺: #SFvsLV on @NFLNetwork
— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2024
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Guerendo admitted that the new kickoff return rules are quite different from what he and his teammates are used to. Friday night allowed him to experience the new format, and he flashed his game-breaking ability.
"Next time, I just gotta finish it," Guerendo told 49ers team reporter Lindsey Pallares after the game. "... Gotta get in the end zone next time. Gotta finish that, but it feels good, and I'm excited about it."
Reflecting on finally suiting up for an NFL game after being sidelined for so long, Guerendo shared, "It was good to be out there. Good to finally get a feel for it, obviously, at this level. But, obviously, I have a lot of work that I need to do, things that I want to polish up, and I'm excited to get to work on those."
He also acknowledged the difficulty of missing practice with his teammates while recovering from his injury.
"It obviously hurts, but at the same time, you gotta approach it, just take it day by day to make sure that when you do come back, you're 100% healthy and ready to go," Guerendo said. "Fortunately, I was able to get an opportunity [against the Raiders], but I got work to do."
For a time, there were concerns that Guerendo's injury might jeopardize his chances of securing a roster spot. However, his patience and determination seem to have paid off. After his impressive debut against the Raiders, it would be surprising if he didn't make the 49ers' 53-man roster.