49ers bring back receiver/returner Trent Taylor

Field Level Media|published: 04/16/2024, 9:03pm EDT

Dec 17, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Trent Taylor (15) recovers a muffed punt as Cleveland Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) defends during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. credits: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran wide receiver and return specialist Trent Taylor has returned to the San Francisco 49ers, who have an opening after losing Ray-Ray McCloud last month to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.

Taylor, 29, signed a one-year contact on Tuesday with the 49ers, who had selected him in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Louisiana Tech.

After playing for San Francisco from 2017-20, Taylor spent most of 2019 on injured reserve (foot surgery), before playing for the Cincinnati Bengals (2021-22) and Chicago Bears (2023). He has 87 career receptions for 834 yards and three touchdowns in 78 games (three starts), with his best season as a rookie in 2017, when he made 43 catches for 430 yards and two scores.

Taylor didn't have a catch in 17 games with the Bears last season, but he did return 23 punts for 188 yards (8.2-yard average), with a long of 31 yards. McCloud returned 24 punts for 203 yards (8.4 average), with a long of 19, and also returned 10 kickoffs for a 22.5-yard average.

—Field Level Media