The San Francisco 49ers ought to start taking a more in-depth have a look at their backfield, particularly if star operating again Christian McCaffrey misses extra practices.
McCaffrey missed a fourth consecutive observe on Sunday, through Cam Inman of the Bay Space Information Group. Per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the preliminary absence on Monday was attributed to “tightness.” The undisclosed harm has remained obscure because it was first reported.
This case parallels the one in 2024, wherein McCaffrey missed most of coaching camp with a calf harm. It turned out to be an Achilles challenge that sidelined him till Week 10 of that season. The RB performed simply 4 video games earlier than struggling a knee harm and touchdown on injured reserve.
Now that is to not say McCaffrey’s newest challenge is as extreme. It might be only a minor harm, and the workforce is holding him out as a precaution. However that should not preclude San Francisco from making ready for an additional worst-case state of affairs. As issues stand, the 49ers aren’t.
Why 49ers aren’t ready for worst-case Christian McCaffrey state of affairs
The final time three-time first-team All-Professional McCaffrey missed a number of video games, the 49ers’ dashing assault really did not undergo that a lot. Fifth-year RB Jordan Mason (now with the Minnesota Vikings) assumed RB1 duties fairly properly, dashing for a team-leading 789 yards in 12 video games. The workforce completed eleventh within the league in dashing yards (127.2 per recreation).
San Francisco could not profit from comparable backfield depth in 2026. Third-year RB Isaac Guerendo stays on the PUP (bodily unable to carry out) listing due to a pectoral harm. He and McCaffrey aren’t the one 49ers RBs battling accidents.
Second-year RB Jordan James fractured his rib originally of coaching camp and hasn’t returned. Rookie Kaelon Black, in the meantime, is battling a thigh/adductor challenge, which compelled him to overlook the workforce’s preseason opener towards the Tennessee Titans and Sunday’s observe.
Patrick Taylor Jr. began within the 19-13 loss to Tennessee however struggled, dashing for minus-five yards on 5 carries. Fellow RBs Honest McCormick, Khalil Herbert and Zamir White weren’t a lot better, combining for 57 yards on 18 carries.
The 49ers could wish to wait till James or Black will get wholesome to see who the RB2 ought to be. Nonetheless, they should not rule out signing one other RB in free company, maybe Austin Ekeler, who has 4,765 dashing yards on 1,081 carries in 9 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders.
A veteran RB like Ekeler would not be an elite choice. Nonetheless, he would supply extra insurance coverage for McCaffrey, who will not be one hundred pc heading into the Niners’ regular-season opener towards the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 in Melbourne (Netflix, 8:35 p.m. ET).
