Injuries cause busy day for 49ers in running back market
The 49ers on Tuesday were busy as they sorted out their running back situation in the wake of knee injuries to Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman that will keep each player out at least one week.
With Mostert and Coleman out, San Francisco would’ve been down to two running backs on the active roster: Jerick McKinnon and Jeff Wilson Jr.
The likeliest solution on short notice was to elevate undrafted rookie JaMycal Hasty from the practice squad. The team made him their lone protected player from the practice squad this week which means he can’t be picked up by another club. That’s a strong indication he’ll be elevated to take the third running back spot for Week 3 against the Giants.
Hasty racked up 1,998 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns on 386 attempts (5.2 YPA) across four seasons with the Bears. He tacked on additional 485 yards and one touchdown through the air on 79 catches.
That wasn’t the only running back related move for the 49ers on Tuesday though. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported a trio of running backs will work out for San Francisco as well, including Paul Perkins, Karan Higdon and former 49ers UDFA Austin Walter.
Barring either Coleman or Mostert’s injury turning into a long-term issue that requires a permanent replacement on the 53-man roster, it’s likely the players San Francisco worked out will get a look for the practice squad.
Perkins was a fifth-round pick of the Giants in the 2016 draft out of UCLA. In two seasons with New York and one with Detroit, Perkins posted 575 rushing yards on 165 attempts.
Higdon spent last year on the Texans’ practice squad as an undrafted rookie out of Michigan. Walter, a Rice alum, also went undrafted last year before signing with the 49ers. He eventually landed with the Giants’ practice squad.
The 49ers waived CB Christian Angulo from the practice squad which opens a spot on the 16-man practice roster. It stands to reason San Francisco would aim to fill that spot with a running back while they deal with injuries at that position.
