The San Francisco 49ers appear to have addressed concerns about their running back depth behind star Christian McCaffrey, as evidenced by strong showings in the team's preseason finale. Head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed satisfaction with the competition and the clarity it provided for roster decisions following the exhibition win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
McCaffrey, who did not play in the preseason finale, is expected to be ready for Week 1. However, the team's confidence in its ground game extends to its backups, a crucial factor given McCaffrey's injury history. Midway through training camp, the running back room faced questions due to multiple injuries, but Kaelon Black has performed well since his return, and Jordan James displayed explosiveness in his preseason debut, carrying the ball eight times for 35 yards and adding a 20-yard reception. Shanahan noted his excitement about James's performance, highlighting his hard running.
James, who missed most of his rookie season with a broken finger and knee injury, is shaping up to be the third option on the depth chart, behind McCaffrey and Black. The team also anticipates having Khalil Herbert and Sincere McCormick available for the practice squad, assuming they are not claimed by other teams. Herbert received a significant portion of carries in the second half against the Raiders, gaining 39 yards on eight attempts.
Positional Battles and Concerns
Beyond the running backs, other positional battles saw developments. Carver Willis, who started at left guard for the second consecutive week and performed well, seems to be solidifying his position. His competition, Connor Colby, saw snaps at right guard and remained in the game late, while Willis was able to rest. Shanahan indicated Willis is making a strong push for the starting job.
However, concerns remain on the defensive line, particularly with interior linemen Alfred Collins and C.J. West. Both players, who were among the few potential Week 1 starters to play in the finale, struggled against the Raiders' guards. Mike Washington Jr. of the Raiders gained significant yardage up the middle against them. Pro Football Focus graded Collins and West among the team's bottom three defenders in the game, with other defensive tackles also receiving low marks. Shanahan attributed their presence on the field with reserves to offseason shoulder surgery for Collins and a concussion that sidelined West during camp, but their performance raises questions heading into the regular season.
At linebacker, the competition to surround stars Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw began to yield clearer results. Garret Wallow, despite practicing during the week, did not play and received praise from Shanahan, suggesting he has secured a roster spot. Deion Jones, a former Pro Bowler signed recently, played primarily with third and fourth-string units in the second half, indicating he may not be a guaranteed roster inclusion. Rookie Jaden Dugger remains the favorite to start at strong-side linebacker, having consistently played the position throughout the preseason.
Special Teams Performance
San Francisco's special teams also showed improvement. Punter Corliss Waitman has seemingly won the job over Thomas Morestead, averaging 46.5 yards per punt in the finale and placing three inside the 20-yard line. His preseason performance has been consistently strong. Kicker Eddy Pineiro also performed well, making all six of his field goal attempts against the Raiders. Pineiro is entering the first year of a four-year, $17 million contract extension signed before the season.