(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
There was so much positivity surrounding Jalen Hurd both in the 2019 preseason and in 2020. In the limited reps Hurd saw last year, you witnessed a hulking, 6’5″, 224-pound hybrid who was more tight end than wide out, with the college background as a running back and eager physicality to make defensive coordinators and linebackers uneasy.
In Hurd’s lone preseason appearance last year, against the Dallas Cowboys, he caught a pair of touchdown passes and looked every bit worth the third-round selection the 49ers used to acquire him. But his season was ended by a stress reaction in his back which failed to heal as fast as the 49ers had hoped.
It appears his season is over yet again. Hurd went down in practice on Sunday, injuring his knee. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the team believes that he suffered a torn ACL, but is waiting on MRI results to confirm that. The result is nothing short of devastating for Hurd, who will now have to work back again from injury and try to be available for his third possible training camp.
#49ers WR Jalen Hurd is undergoing an MRI this morning after suffering what’s believed to be a major knee injury in practice yesterday, sources tell me and @RapSheet. The fear is the test will reveal a torn ACL. Test will tell full story.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 17, 2020
The 49ers are also reportedly working out receiver Jaron Brown, and do not have to sacrifice a roster spot if they wish to sign him, after G/C Spencer Long’s retirement.
The #49ers are bringing in veteran WR Jaron Brown for a workout, source says. The former #Seahawks and #AZCardinals receiver has spent seven seasons in the NFC West and looking to make it eight.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 17, 2020