49ers training camp battle: The running back position

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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 6: Running back Tim Hightower #34 of the New Orleans Saints runs for five yards against cornerback Tramaine Brock #26 of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter on November, 6 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Saints won 41-23. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Tim Hightower

The 49ers made a lot of offensive free-agent moves this offseason to bring in players familiar with Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

One of these was to sign 31-year-old tailback Tim Hightower, who played under Shanahan with the Washington Redskins back in 2011.

Injuries and setbacks kept Hightower off the field between 2012 and 2014 so, even though he’s advanced in age for this position, Hightower still may be relatively fresh, in terms of wear and tear.

Tim Hightower Rushing & Receiving Table
			Game	Game	Rush	Rush	Rush	Rush	Rush	Rush	Rush	Rece	Rece	Rece	Rece	Rece	Rece	Rece	Rece
Year	Age	Tm	G	GS	Rush	Yds	TD	Lng	Y/A	Y/G	A/G	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Y/R	TD	Lng	R/G	Y/G	Fmb
2008	22	ARI	16	7	143	399	10	30	2.8	24.9	8.9	50	34	237	7.0	0	26	2.1	14.8	2
2009	23	ARI	16	16	143	598	8	50	4.2	37.4	8.9	80	63	428	6.8	0	23	3.9	26.8	5
2010	24	ARI	16	13	153	736	5	80	4.8	46.0	9.6	42	21	136	6.5	0	20	1.3	8.5	5
2011	25	WAS	5	5	84	321	1	22	3.8	64.2	16.8	15	10	78	7.8	1	19	2.0	15.6	0
2015	29	NOR	8	3	96	375	4	26	3.9	46.9	12.0	13	12	129	10.8	0	27	1.5	16.1	0
2016	30	NOR	16	1	133	548	4	30	4.1	34.3	8.3	26	22	200	9.1	1	50	1.4	12.5	0
Care	Care		77	45	752	2977	32	80	4.0	38.7	9.8	226	162	1208	7.5	2	50	2.1	15.7	12
3 yr	3 yr	ARI	48	36	439	1733	23	80	3.9	36.1	9.1	172	118	801	6.8	0	26	2.5	16.7	12
2 yr	2 yr	NOR	24	4	229	923	8	30	4.0	38.5	9.5	39	34	329	9.7	1	50	1.4	13.7	0
1 yr	1 yr	WAS	5	5	84	321	1	22	3.8	64.2	16.8	15	10	78	7.8	1	19	2.0	15.6	0

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/15/2017.

Unlike Joe Williams, Hightower does have some noteworthy abilities in the receiving game.

Whether or not this translates into the veteran making the 53-man roster is anyone’s guess. But a relatively consistent level of production and experience working under Shanahan likely pushes Hightower onto the strong bubble.