# San Francisco 49ers RB depth concerns

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/san-francisco-49ers-rb-depth-concerns
> Updated: 2026-07-29T16:15:52.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

In mid‑July 2026 the 49ers were warned that a thin running‑back roster could limit their offense. Starting star Christian McCaffrey was expected to carry the load, while rookie Jordan James and Kaelon Black were slated as backups, and head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed caution about giving them many reps.

Two weeks later the team held workouts for three additional backs—Raheem Blackshear, Khalil Herbert and Owen Wright—after James suffered a broken rib and McCaffrey continued to struggle with recurring injuries that had sidelined him for most of 2024. McCaffrey’s 2025 comeback earned him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, but the latest injury updates reignited speculation about his availability for the season and highlighted the ongoing depth challenge for San Francisco’s ground game.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-29: San Francisco 49ers evaluate running backs amid Christian McCaffrey's injury concerns

The 49ers tried three running backs as they cope with Christian McCaffrey’s lingering injuries, while betting odds list Patrick Mahomes as the 2026 NFL Comeback Player favorite.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/san-francisco-49ers-evaluate-running-backs-amid-christian-mccaffreys-injury-concerns

### 2026-07-15: San Francisco 49ers face running‑back depth concerns ahead of 2026 season

Mike Evans earns Hall‑of‑Fame buzz, but the 49ers' 2026 offense may be hampered by limited running‑back depth behind Christian McCaffrey.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/san-francisco-49ers-face-runningback-depth-concerns-ahead-of-2026-season

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Cite as: San Francisco 49ers RB depth concerns. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/san-francisco-49ers-rb-depth-concerns