49ers Add Khalil Herbert on a One-Year Deal, Move Patrick Taylor Jr. to Injured Reserve

The San Francisco 49ers announced a pair of roster moves Tuesday that recalibrate their backfield heading into the later stages of the preseason cycle. The team signed running back Khalil Herbert to a one-year deal and, to make room for the new addition, placed running back Patrick Taylor Jr. on injured reserve.

Herbert’s signing brings an experienced NFL option into the 49ers’ running-back mix. While the move is framed as a one-year contract, the practical football impact is immediate: the team gains another ballcarrier and pass-protection contributor competing for reps behind and around their established group. Herbert will now be evaluated in team drills and preseason game action for how quickly he fits into the 49ers’ running schemes and protection assignments.

Taylor’s move to injured reserve changes the calculus for depth. When a player is placed on IR, it removes him from the active roster for the near term and typically indicates that the team is planning without that specific contributor for the current stretch of the season. The announcement did not include any additional description beyond the roster transaction, but the timing matters. With roster spots tightening, IR designations often coincide with a clear need to protect roster stability and keep active options available for weekly game planning.

For the 49ers, the Herbert signing functions as a roster-management bridge. Even teams with a stable offensive identity typically keep a competitive backfield because roles vary week to week depending on game scripts, opponent run defense, and the balance between between runs and receptions. Adding Herbert on a short deal creates flexibility: it gives the coaching staff a concrete evaluation window without long-term commitment.

The Taylor placement also affects the internal competition. Running-back depth is one of the fastest positions to experience turnover during the preseason, not only due to injuries but also because of performance differentiation and special-teams value. With Taylor on IR, the remaining backs will likely absorb additional snaps as the 49ers determine their final rotation.

Beyond the immediate roster mathematics, Tuesday’s moves underscore the 49ers’ continued emphasis on keeping multiple viable options at a position central to the team’s offensive tempo. The organization’s ability to adapt in-season often starts with decisions like this one in August, when teams balance evaluation with the need to be operationally ready once the regular-season timeline compresses.

What to watch next is how Herbert handles the specific responsibilities he is given. In particular, his usage pattern, his involvement in pass plays, and his ability to earn reps consistently will be the most telling indicators of how the 49ers plan to structure their backfield. The situation with Taylor will also remain a storyline to monitor, since an IR placement typically carries implications for when, or if, a player can return to practice and the active roster later in the year.