NFC Notes: 49ers, Eagles, Giants

49ers

Back in 2017, 49ers WR Trent Taylor made a splash as a rookie, setting a career-high with 43 catches and 430 yards and establishing a rapport with QB Jimmy Garoppolo after he arrived via trade. But injuries have prevented Taylor from expanding on that. A back injury limited him his second year and he missed the entire 2019 season from complications arising after a broken foot, including five different surgeries to insert and remove screws and deal with infection. Entering the last year of his rookie year, Taylor feels well on the road to health. 

“I’m back to doing all my normal stuff,” Taylor said via the Athletic’s Matt Barrows. “I don’t know if you would say that I’m ready to go out and play a football game. I mean, I could if I had to. But mainly, I’m just steadily getting back to normal right now. It feels good. My foot’s able to run routes and make cuts right now. So I’m real happy to be back doing that.”

Eagles

• EJ Smith of The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that if DT Fletcher Cox can return to All-Pro form and mesh well with current DT Malik Jackson and former Steelers’ DT Javon Hargrave, then defensive tackle will easily be the team’s best position and could make up for a lack of depth at linebacker.
• Smith also added that according to ProFootballFocus, Hargrave was third in the league in QB pressures behind Rams DT Aaron Donald and Chiefs DT Chris Jones.
• As for the team’s defensive ends, Smith says that Derek Barnett was unable to take a big step forward in 2019. This means that beyond veteran Brandon Graham, there are questions that come with unproven defensive ends Josh Sweat and Shareef Miller.
• Ben Volin of the Boston Globe thinks the Eagles are positioned well to weather the unique challenges of the 2020 season given how much continuity they’re bringing back. 

Giants

• Ben Volin of the Boston Globe thinks the Giants will be more affected by the unique challenges of the 2020 season given they have a first-time head coach with Joe Judge and two new coordinators, OC Jason Garrett and DC Patrick Graham.