The San Francisco 49ers announced they have promoted running back Patrick Taylor Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster. The team placed defensive lineman Kevin Givens on injured reserve to make room on the roster. Givens suffered a pectoral injury on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
Additionally, the team announced it has signed running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn to the practice squad, a move first reported on Tuesday.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Taylor Jr. (6-2, 217) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2020. Throughout his four-year NFL career with the Packers (2020-23) and 49ers (2024) he has appeared in 42 games and registered 72 carries for 286 yards (4.0 average) and one touchdown on the ground to go along with 15 receptions for 81 yards (5.4 average) through the air. He has also appeared in three postseason contests and registered three carries for six yards. In 2024, Taylor Jr. signed as a free agent with the 49ers on April 8 and appeared in eight games and registered seven carries for 25 yards (3.6 average) on the ground and one reception for 12 yards prior to being waived by the team on November 9 and later signing to the team's practice squad on November 12.
A 26-year-old native of Humble, TX, Taylor Jr. attended the University of Memphis (2014-16) where he appeared in 45 games (four starts) and registered 536 rushes for 2,884 yards (5.4 average) and 36 touchdowns as well as tallying 55 receptions for 434 yards and three touchdowns. He finished his collegiate career with 3,322 yards from scrimmage and 39 touchdowns.
Vaughn (5-10, 214) was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round (76th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Throughout his four-year NFL career, Vaughn has appeared in 43 games (one start) and registered 103 carries for 384 yards (3.7 average) and two touchdowns on the ground to go along with 14 receptions for 81 yards (5.8 average) and one touchdown through the air. In 2023, Vaughn appeared in six games and registered 24 carries for 42 yards on the ground and added two receptions for two yards through the air. Vaughn signed to the 49ers practice squad on August 29, 2024, and was released by the team on November 12.
A 27-year-old native of Nashville, TN, Vaughn attended the University of Illinois (2015-17) before transferring to Vanderbilt University for three seasons (2017-20), where he appeared in 46 games (29 starts) and tallied 572 carries for 3,296 yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground and added 67 receptions for 664 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Givens (6-1, 285) appeared in eight games (one start) this season and registered 11 tackles and 3.5 sacks.