Shanahan Not Concerned About Rookie RB Black's Groin Injury

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan stated on Thursday that he is not concerned about rookie running back Kaelon Black's groin injury. Shanahan addressed the injury during an interview on KNBR, indicating that the team is being cautious and does not expect Black to miss their upcoming Week 2 game against the Dolphins.

"No, I think we’re just being smart with him," Shanahan said. "It was a little tight today, so we didn’t want to push him too hard." The coach's comments come after Black was listed as limited in practice due to the injury.

Black received a significant workload in the 49ers' Week 1 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, even carrying more snaps than veteran Christian McCaffrey. Shanahan noted that Black's increased usage was partly due to the game's flow and the team's early success in the run game. "That’s just kind of how the game went," Shanahan explained. "It probably has to do with probably starting out the game with three runs in the first 17 plays."

In his NFL debut, Black carried the ball 14 times for 65 yards and secured three first downs. "I love taking some off Christian," Shanahan added. "Love that Kaelon was prepared for everything. The run game and the pass game and allowed us to be able to do that."

The decision to give Black a larger share of carries may also be attributed to managing McCaffrey's workload. McCaffrey, in his 10th NFL season and at 30 years old, has a history of injuries, including an Achilles injury two years ago and a calf issue during training camp. With the 49ers holding a commanding lead late in the Week 1 game, Black taking over became a strategic choice.

Black, who was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the NFL draft, is 24 years old and weighs 208 pounds. He was Indiana's lead running back last season, appearing in all 16 games and accumulating 1,040 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.