The 49ers’ season is hanging in the balance at 6-7, even after their resounding win over the Bears on Sunday. Injuries are as much of a factor as anything else, and the running back position has been hit the hardest.
Christian McCaffrey has played sparingly due to calf and knee injuries, while backups Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo have both gone down within the last two weeks. Now, an important NFC West matchup with the Rams looms.
While many NFL front offices would tell you running back is among the most replaceable position, the 49ers don’t want to hear it — they are down to a handful of inexperienced options in the backfield right when they need to string together wins.
Here’s a look at the 49ers’ running back depth chart against the Rams with a trio of players out.
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49ers RB depth chart
| RB | Player |
| 1 | Isaac Guerendo* |
| 2 | Patrick Taylor Jr. |
| 3 | Ke’Shawn Vaughn |
| 4 | Israel Abanikanda |
* — Unlikely to play due to foot injury.
1. Isaac Guerendo*
Guerendo, a fourth-round pick out of Louisville, played well in place of McCaffrey and Mason in Week 14, totaling 128 yards and two touchdowns, but he suffered a foot sprain that could keep him out of Thursday night’s game against the Rams.
The rookie didn’t practice early in the week, and coach Kyle Shanahan cast doubt on his availability in a short week, potentially leaving the 49ers down to their No. 4 RB.
Gameday Update: Guerendo maintains that he is going to play. He will test the injury pre-game, but there is at least a chance that San Francisco will be able to go with its third string running back as opposed to fourth or fifth.
With the fantasy football playoffs starting tonight:
49ers rookie RB Isaac Guerendo plans to play Thursday night vs. the Rams despite his sprained foot that has left him being listed as questionable, per sources. Guerendo insists he “feels good.” pic.twitter.com/WClJ52lva3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 12, 2024
2. Patrick Taylor Jr.
Next up for the 49ers if Guerendo can’t suit up is Patrick Taylor Jr., a 26-year-old who went undrafted out of Memphis in 2020.
Taylor spent the last four seasons in Green Bay, debuting in 2021 and receiving a career-high 32 carries in 2023. He has 50 yards and a touchdown on 14 rushing attempts this season, with half of those carries coming against the Bears on Sunday.
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3. Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Ke’Shawn Vaughn was promoted from the practice squad ahead of Sunday’s game and could be promoted again on Thursday if Guerendo can’t play. The 27-year-old was a third-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2020 and spent four seasons in Tampa, playing a limited role on the ground with 384 total yards and two touchdowns in that span.
Vaughn received two carries in the win over the Bears and could be in line for a larger role against the Rams if he serves as the direct backup to Taylor.
4. Israel Abanikanda
The 49ers claimed Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the Jets after the injuries to McCaffrey and Mason, but he was inactive against the Bears as he tried to get himself acclimated with the offense.
It isn’t known whether San Francisco will reverse course and make him active against the Rams, but Abanikanda is at least an intriguing developmental piece for the 49ers. Still just 22, he played sparingly for the Jets as a rookie in 2023 but shined with 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns at Pitt in 2022.
