Who Should I Start? Patrick Taylor Jr. or Carson Steele

Wednesday, August 20, 9:56 AM

The San Francisco 49ers have placed veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) on the season-ending injured reserve list. Taylor suffered a dislocated shoulder in the team's second preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he joins the growing list of 49ers running backs struck by injury. While presumed backup Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) was able to return to practice on Tuesday after missing several weeks with a shoulder injury of his own, the team has already lost Ameer Abdullah (ribs) for the season. Rookie Jordan James has already missed a few weeks due to a broken finger. After trading Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers' running back depth has been seriously tested already, which is the last thing the team needs in their efforts to keep All-Pro Christian McCaffrey healthy. Jeff Wilson Jr. and Ke'Shawn Vaughn will likely see the majority of work in the team's final preseason game. If he can remain healthy, McCaffrey once more enters the year as perhaps the biggest difference maker in fantasy football. Still, given his checkered injury history, Guerendo is one of the league's most important backups to roster.

Tuesday, August 26, 11:48 AM

The Kansas City Chiefs have released running back Carson Steele, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. An undrafted free agent signee in 2024, Steele earned some playing time early last season for Kansas City and finished the year with 56 carries for 183 yards. The Chiefs have much better depth at the position heading into 2025 after bringing back veteran Kareem Hunt, signing Elijah Mitchell in free agency, and using a seventh-round pick on Brashard Smith. With Steele now out of the picture, Hunt, Mitchell, and Smith will compete for touches in Kansas City behind undisputed RB1 Isiah Pacheco.