The San Francisco 49ers conducted tryouts for three running backs on Thursday afternoon, according to reports from The San Francisco Standard. The team worked out Raheem Blackshear, Khalil Herbert, and Owen Wright as they address depth concerns at the position, particularly with the health of Christian McCaffrey and a recent injury to Jordan James.
James suffered a broken rib on Monday, prompting the 49ers to explore additional options. Lombardi noted that all three players who tried out are 5-foot-9 and possess experience as return specialists, similar to James. Herbert, who spent his first four seasons with the Chicago Bears, has served as a backup running back. In 2022, he recorded 731 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on 129 carries.
Blackshear and Wright have primarily held backup roles throughout their careers, seeing limited action.
The 49ers' running back situation has been a focal point in recent seasons due to McCaffrey's injury history. Between 2020 and 2021, McCaffrey played in only 10 games due to shoulder, ankle, and hamstring issues. However, from 2022 to 2023, after being traded from the Carolina Panthers to San Francisco, he missed only one regular-season game. During the 2023 season, McCaffrey was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns, and also contributing significantly in the passing game with 102 receptions for 924 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Despite his previous success, McCaffrey was sidelined for much of the 2024 season with an Achilles injury, appearing in only four games. Last season, he earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors after leading the 49ers in both rushing and receiving.
This offseason, the 49ers drafted Kaelon Black in the third round, anticipating him to help shoulder the workload. However, beyond Black, the team is looking to solidify the depth at the running back position before the regular season begins.