SANTA CLARA -- Wide receivers Richie James and Victor Bolden recorded their first NFL catches last week against the Arizona Cardinals. And they are certain to get more chances Monday night when the 49ers face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin will return to the lineup on Monday after sitting out with hamstring and quadriceps injuries, but slot receiver Trent Taylor will not play due to a back condition, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said.
Taylor, who underwent an offseason procedure to remove bone spurs from his back, has 16 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers’ first five games. As a rookie last season, he caught 43 passes for 430 yards and two TDs.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Veteran Pierre Garçon, who has not practiced this week, is likely to play, but the 49ers will not have Goodwin’s backup, Dante Pettis, who remains out of action with a knee injury.
“We think (Goodwin) is going to be back, but Trent is going to be down,” Shanahan said on “49ers Game Plan,” which airs Saturday on NBC Bay Area (Ch. 3) at 7 p.m.
“Guys have to step up and play in that position, also. Pierre has missed the week of practice, so I know he’s not going into it 100 percent. I do think he’ll play, but all of our guys have to step up and they got to be ready to adjust as the game goes.”
James, a seventh-round draft pick from Middle Tennessee State, is likely to be the team’s top slot receiver in place of Taylor. James was inactive for three of the 49ers’ first four games before starting last week and playing 24 snaps. He caught one pass for 7 yards.
San Francisco 49ers
Bolden, returning from a four-game suspension, played 57 snaps and caught one pass for 10 yards. Bolden played in nine games last season as a rookie but did not catch a pass.
“They did some good things and some rookie things, also,” Shanahan said. “But I think that game helped them, and I think they’ll be better in Green Bay for it.”