Tag: Jullian Taylor

Jullian Taylor comments after signing with Vikings

Jullian Taylor is referencing “Dragon Ball Z” as he prepares for the 2022 season

Jullian Taylor has faced adversity at every turn, and it led right back to the one place he still feels like he belongs: the football field.

After signing with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, the veteran defensive tackle is reinvigorated in his drive to stick on the roster and actually contribute in 2022.

He hasn’t played in an actual NFL game since tearing his ACL back in 2019. The Tennessee Titans signed him last February, but he was waived a few months later in June.

It’s tough coming back from ACL injuries, which can be career-ending in some cases. But Taylor took it all in stride by using the extra time to prepare for his next opportunity.

He was beyond excited when it finally came in the form of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings.

“Excited, blessed and grateful for this opportunity,” Taylor posted on social media. “I’m in a beautiful place right now in my life. I have to deliver. I’m back on my bully Thank you God.”

Taylor played for the San Francisco 49ers when Adofo-Mensah was still the director of football research and development for the team. So there’s clearly a connection between the two.

The Vikings are making an effort to beef up their defensive front during a free agency period where they’ve already added Za’Darius Smith and Harrison Phillips.

With the team currently in a win-now mode, they’re hopeful Taylor can do more more than just help out on the practice field.

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DT Jullian Taylor signs with Vikings

The Vikings continue to beef up their defensive front

The Minnesota Vikings are bringing in another familiar face to general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah with the signing of former San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Jullian Taylor.

It has been over two years since Taylor has taken a meaningful snap on a football field. After posting career highs in tackles (4) and snap percentage (37%) in the 49ers’ Week 13 meeting with the Baltimore Ravens, it was reported that he had suffered a torn ACL.

He hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since that injury diagnosis.

The 27-year-old defensive lineman did land with the Tennessee Titans in the 2021 offseason, but that opportunity fizzled out in June of that same year, resulting in his release from the team.

Now that Taylor is fully recovered from the ACL injury, the Vikings are kicking the tires on his ability to compete in Ed Donatell’s defense. At the very least, he can serve as an experienced camp body to help drive the competition on the practice field.

Of course, that’s assuming he makes it to that point. The former seventh-round draft pick has an uphill battle ahead of him to get on the field, much less make the practice squad.

But at least he’ll have an opportunity.

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Titans release Adam Humphries, Breon Borders among 4 roster moves

The move to release Humphries was to be expected.

The Tennessee Titans announced four roster moves on Thursday afternoon, including the release of wide receiver Adam Humphries after two seasons with the team.

Humphries signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Titans back in 2019, but his time in Nashville was marred by injuries, leading to his playing in 19 of 32 games the past two seasons.

The move to cut Humphries was expected considering the results and with the team being strapped for cash this offseason. It will save Tennessee $4.47 million in cap space in 2021.

Adding to that move, the Titans parted ways with cornerbacks Chris Milton and Breon Borders, while also signing defensive lineman Jullian Taylor.

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Borders was a standout fill-in for Tennessee’s injury-riddled secondary last season. He saw some struggles but was solid overall and even notched the fifth-highest grade among all cornerbacks in the NFL from Weeks 7 to 11. His season ended prematurely due to injury.

Milton spent the last two seasons with the Titans, serving as a special teams ace. He also finished 2020 on IR. Taylor, a Temple product, played in 12 games with the San Francisco 49ers the past two seasons.

As Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky notes, the release of Borders and Milton appears to be a formality based on their respective statuses, so it’s possible one or both could be brought back.

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Jaquiski Tartt officially ‘doubtful’ vs. Seahawks

The 49ers likely won’t have their starting strong safety for the fourth-consecutive game.

The 49ers’ official injury report for Sunday came with a couple hits of bad news. Jaquiski Tartt was a limited participant in practice all week, but is officially listed as ‘doubtful’ for Sunday, and defensive lineman Jullian Taylor was ruled out with a knee injury after getting on track to return Sunday after missing three games.

It turns out Taylor is headed to Injured Reserve with a torn ACL, so his season is over. He’ll be replaced by undrafted rookie Kevin Givens.

Tartt has missed the last three games with a broken rib, and now it appears he’ll miss a fourth. The team isn’t ruling him all the way out in the event of a turnaround between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening when inactives are due.

San Francisco has struggled in Tartt’s absence. They’re allowing 35.3 points and 291 passing yards per game in those three contests. His replacement, Marcell Harris, has had some up-and-down performances, and will need to have his best game as a pro against Seattle.

The injuries to Tartt, plus Dee Ford getting ruled out again with a hamstring injury, further underscores the need for San Francisco to get a win over Seattle and clinch a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Right guard Mike Person is also questionable with a neck injury. He missed last week vs. the Rams and will be replaced again by undrafted rookie Daniel Brunskill if he’s unable to play Sunday.

Here’s the official status report for Week 17:

Out

DE Dee Ford (quad, hamstring)
DL Jullian Taylor (knee)

Doubtful

SS Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)

Questionable

RG Mike Person (neck)

49ers to place DL Jullian Taylor on IR, activate DL Kevin Givens

The 49ers’ defensive line was hit with another injury.

The 49ers’ defensive line depth took another hit just as it was getting ready to improve. Defensive lineman Jullian Taylor was due to return Sunday vs. the Seahawks after missing the last three games with an elbow injury, but he tore his ACL on Thursday and will go on injured reserve according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Taylor’s move to IR will open a roster spot for undrafted rookie defensive lineman Kevin Givens, who’s spent the year on the 49ers’ practice squad. Givens had a nice preseason after signing with the club in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State.

Givens played for three years with the Nittany Lions and had 83 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in 36 games. He should make his NFL debut Sunday on a depleted 49ers defensive line.

Taylor will join Ronald Blair, Damontre Moore and DJ Jones among defensive linemen on the 49ers’ IR. Dee Ford is also out Sunday while he nurses a hamstring injury.

Taylor hasn’t had a ton of action since joining the 49ers as a seventh-round pick out of Temple in last year’s draft. He played in six games as a rookie and saw time in six games before his injury this season. Taylor was good in limited snaps this year with nine tackles, four tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

Defensive line depth has been a huge problem for the 49ers late in the season, but if Givens can pick up where he left off in the preseason and offer a handful of effective snaps, it would be a huge boost for San Francisco’s banged up defensive front.

Limited changes on 49ers’ practice report leading up to showdown with Seahawks

The 49ers’ injury report didn’t change much Thursday.

 The 49ers’ Thursday practice report looked a lot like the estimated Wednesday report. San Francisco didn’t practice Wednesday, so the report was a guess at what each player’s participation level would’ve been.

The only change on Thursday’s report was defensive lineman Jullian Taylor getting downgraded from full to limited participation with a knee injury. He’d previously been working through an elbow issue. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on Thursday told reporters the team is “pumped to get him back” when asked about Taylor, which could indicate the defensive lineman is set to return vs. Seattle. We’ll get a better idea about his availability Friday when a status report for Sunday is due.

Dee Ford remains the lone 49er not practicing, and Jaquiski Tartt was limited again in a non-contact jersey. Ford will remain out for Sunday with a hamstring injury, but Tartt could still play depending on how he feels after Friday’s practice.

Here’s the full participation report from Thursday:

Did not participate

DE Dee Ford (hamstring)

Limited participation

SS Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)
WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
DL Jullian Taylor (knee)
RG Mike Person (neck)
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee)

Full participation

DB Tarvarius Moore (concussion)

49ers’ injury situation improving as showdown for NFC West looms

The 49ers’ injury situation isn’t perfect, but it’s getting better at the right time.

The 49ers didn’t hold a practice Wednesday, but their estimated participation report revealed an improving injury situation heading into a Wee 17 showdown with the Seahawks in Seattle.

Perhaps the most notable names on the practice report were both on the defensive side of the ball. Safety Jaquiski Tartt was listed as a limited participant. Defensive lineman Jullian Taylor was a full participant.

Tartt has been dealing with broken ribs since Week 13 and hadn’t practiced in any of the three weeks following the injury he sustained against the Ravens. There was no official practice report Tuesday since the team isn’t required to issue one until Wednesday, but Tartt was spotted in a non-contact jersey by reporters during the open portion of Tuesday’s session.

Taylor was a limited participant last week while he dealt with an elbow injury that’s kept him out since the Baltimore game. His full participation estimation is a good sign that he’ll be ready to play against Seattle.

An extra player on the defensive line to take some snaps and give the starting group a few plays off could be key against a porous Seahawks offensive line.

While the 49ers’ injury problem isn’t perfect, especially with several key contributors and starters on Injured Reserve, it’s improving just in time for the most important game of the year. Winning Sunday would mean an extra week of rest to improve that injury situation even further.

Here’s the full estimated participation report from Wednesday:

Did not participate

DE Dee Ford (hamstring)

Limited participation

LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee)
RG Mike Person (neck)
WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
SS Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)

Full participation

DB Tarvarius Moore (concussion)
DL Jullian Taylor (elbow)

Richard Sherman, K’Waun Williams not on 49ers’ injury report vs. Rams

The 49ers’ injury situation is improving. Richard Sherman and K’Waun Williams will play vs. the Rams.

The 49ers will be at least marginally healthier Saturday when they face the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium. Both cornerbacks Richard Sherman and K’Waun Williams were not on the team’s final Week 16 injury report, putting them on track to play after they missed Week 15 against the Falcons.

Williams’ return from a concussion is less surprising than Sherman’s quick turnaround from a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Typically players clear concussion protocol within a week, and Williams practiced in full all week.

Sherman, however, was supposed to be out at least two weeks. His return to practice Monday was an indicator he might play Saturday, but he practiced in full all week and was left off the injury report.

Having both Sherman and Williams back in the secondary should help with some of the communication issues that plagued the 49ers’ defense against Atlanta.

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on Wednesday specifically noted a miscommunication in the secondary leading to the Falcons’ game-winning touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Julio Jones.

While missing other starters will impact the 49ers, getting Williams and Sherman back should give the San Francisco defense enough of a boost to improve on last week’s performance.

The other player of note on the injury report is right guard Mike Person. He injured his neck against Atlanta and was a limited participant in practice all week. Daniel Brunskill, who filled in at right tackle while Mike McGlinchey was out, and at left tackle when Justin Skule struggled at left tackle, would be first in line to slide into the starting right guard spot.

Against a player like Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the interior of the offensive line is imperative. Brunskill getting his first ever start at right guard against Donald would be a massive test that could decide Sunday’s contest.

Here’s the full injury report:

Out

DE Dee Ford (hamstring)
SS Jaquiski Tartt (ribs)
DL Jullian Taylor (elbow)

Questionable

OL Mike Person (neck)

49ers optimistic Matt Breida, Joe Staley, Dee Ford can return vs. Saints

The 49ers should be relatively healthy with several key players returning from injury vs. the Saints.

The 49ers’ Week 14 showdown in New Orleans against the Saints could wind up playing a significant role in how the postseason shakes out. A win for San Francisco may be the difference between whether the NFC goes through the Bay Area or New Orleans.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan is optimistic about the team’s health going into that contest. He expects running back Matt Breida, left tackle Joe Staley and defensive end Dee Ford to all return against New Orleans. Shanahan does not anticipate the return of wide receiver Dante Pettis, who injured his knee in practice leading up to the Baltimore game.

“I’m holding out hope on all of them,” Shanahan said. “I’m definitely more optimistic about Breida, Ford and Staley. I would be surprised to get Pettis back. None of them are for sure, though. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get three of the four.”

Breida hurt his ankle in Week 10 against Seattle and the team shut him down after he played on an ankle injury for most of last season. He’s been out the last three games, and missed the contest in Baltimore despite practicing all week.

Staley also returned to practice last week after sustaining a hand injury against the Seahawks. He missed three games after he had surgery to repair a fractured, dislocated finger. That game against Seattle was his first since breaking his fibula in Week 2 vs. the Bengals. He’s played in just three games all season.

Ford missed the last two games against the Packers and Ravens after he injured his hamstring chasing down Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in their second meeting in Week 11. He hasn’t practiced at all the last two weeks.

Several key 49ers will be day-to-day after getting hurt Sunday. DJ Jones is nursing an ankle sprain. Richard Sherman is dealing with a knee sprain, and Jaquiski Tartt has a fractured rib. Shanahan didn’t offer any word on their potential availability, although we’ll find out more Wednesday when the team has its first practice of the week.

The only player who’ll for sure miss significant time is defensive lineman Jullian Taylor. He hurt ligaments in his elbow and will be out at least two weeks according to Shanahan.