Taylor details the ‘next man’ mentality in the 49ers’ win over the Bears originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Patrick Taylor Jr. made the most of his opportunities on the field.

The 49ers running back explained his attitude as he filled in for the injured Isaac Guerendo in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears.

“I’ve been preparing all week,” Taylor told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Laura Britt. “As coach (Bobby Turner) says, ‘When you get the call, be ready to ball.’ And I got the call, so I was ready to play.”

Taylor scored his first touchdown in a San Francisco uniform, tying the game with 5:15 left in the fourth quarter. The 49ers offense had no trouble breaking through Chicago’s defense and took a 24-0 halftime lead. For Taylor, the difference between Sunday’s win and the previous two losses was his focus on executing the game plan.

“Coach has been emphasizing this week on the guys making plays, and that’s what the guys did today,” Taylor told Britt. “We made one play at a time and made sure we had the ball.” We agreed on the details and limiting penalties. We came out and played well.”

Taylor was low on the running back rankings to start the season, but with injuries to Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason and now Guerendo, he appears poised to take on the bulk of the backfield duties.

Being thrust into a larger offensive role isn’t a big deal for the 26-year-old, who explained how the team is dealing with the litany of injuries this season.

“It’s a next-man-up mentality,” Taylor told Britt. “And the thing about it is that we’re so deep on the offensive line (and the rest of the offense) that all of these guys can play. “They can play at a high level. So there’s no waste when guys go down.”

San Francisco came out with a sense of urgency, scored on their first possession, took the lead and never looked back.

The win keeps the team mathematically in the running for a playoff spot, but the road ahead will be treacherous. The 49ers would need to win and get help to make the postseason, as they are two games behind the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West.

Next up on Thursday Night Football is another must-win game against the Los Angeles Rams. With Guerendo’s status uncertain, look for Taylor and the rest of the San Francisco offense to pick up the slack.

Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast