The San Francisco 49ers have reached an injury settlement with Patrick Taylor Jr. and released him from injured reserve, making him a free agent.
The move clears Taylor to sign with another team once he’s healthy, and he has already cleared waivers, RotoWire reported. The transaction also frees a roster spot as clubs finalize their rosters ahead of Week 1.
Taylor had been placed on season-ending injured reserve on Aug. 20 after suffering an undisclosed injury around the team’s preseason opener. Yardbarker noted some outlets described the issue as an abductor-related injury. He started that first exhibition against the Tennessee Titans, playing 22 offensive snaps and finishing with five carries for minus-5 yards, Yardbarker added.
This marks the second consecutive preseason in which Taylor landed on injured reserve with the 49ers. San Francisco had brought him back in March 2026 on a one-year deal with no guaranteed money as a low-risk depth addition behind Christian McCaffrey, but the team later parted ways with him after reaching an injury settlement, making him a free agent.
With the settlement finalized, Taylor joins a group of veteran players seeking a new landing spot as teams complete cuts and set their Week 1 rosters. The injury settlement allows him to pursue opportunities elsewhere once he clears any post-settlement health protections and is medically cleared to practice and play.
For the 49ers, the move removes a short-term roster placeholder and preserves flexibility during the roster-assembly window. For Taylor, the settlement and subsequent waiver clearance mean he can immediately begin evaluating interest around the league and sign with a club that needs experienced depth — provided he recovers to playing condition.
The timing comes late in final roster cutdowns and as teams balance depth versus health risk. Taylor’s preseason work — limited by the injury — and his consecutive trips to injured reserve will factor into how teams assess him in the coming days. For now, the agreement gives Taylor the freedom to pursue a roster spot elsewhere once he is cleared to return.
