The San Francisco 49ers find themselves digging deep into their running back roster just six weeks into the season, as injuries take their toll.
The team faced a significant setback when 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey missed the season opener due to an Achilles injury. Subsequently, he was placed on injured reserve, thrusting backup running back Jordan Mason into the role of interim starter.
Mason embraced this opportunity remarkably well, amassing an impressive 536 rushing yards and three touchdowns on a league-high 105 carries during the first five games. His yardage total placed him second only to Baltimore’s star running back Derrick Henry, who had 572 yards leading into the 49ers’ Week 6 clash against the Seattle Seahawks.
However, Mason’s momentum came to an abrupt halt when he sustained a shoulder injury in the second quarter of the “Thursday Night Football” game. He briefly returned for one play but soon found himself sidelined, working out his arm and conferring with trainers. This unfortunate turn of events compelled the 49ers to delve even further down their depth chart, calling upon a rookie to take over the ball-carrying duties.
Rookie running back Isaac Guerendo, a fourth-round draft pick from April, now steps up as RB3 for San Francisco. Guerendo honed his skills at Wisconsin and Louisville during his college career, with his standout season occurring in 2023 at Louisville, where he recorded 810 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
Entering “Thursday Night Football,” Guerendo had already accumulated 12 carries for 41 rushing yards. He took on the lion’s share of the carries in Mason’s absence and is poised to become the 49ers’ starting running back should Mason need to miss additional time.
Also in the mix is Taylor Jr., who made a name for himself with a career-high 141 rushing yards last season while navigating a crowded Green Bay backfield. Though he has yet to score more than one touchdown in the NFL—his lone score coming in 2021—Taylor has demonstrated potential as a receiving back, with 11 receptions during his limited appearances last season.
When Mason went down on “Thursday Night Football,” Taylor took a couple of carries but primarily featured in passing situations, receiving a handful of targets instead.