Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 players who need to bounce back in Week 2 vs. Lions

By Peter Panacy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Stefan Logan #11 of the Detroit Lions returning a punt gets tripped up by C.J. Spillman #27 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of an NFL football game at Candlestick Park on September 16, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Stefan Logan #11 of the Detroit Lions returning a punt gets tripped up by C.J. Spillman #27 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of an NFL football game at Candlestick Park on September 16, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 25: Alfred Morris #36 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 25: Alfred Morris #36 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Running Back Alfred Morris

The 49ers rushing attack will never be what Kyle Shanahan hoped it would be this season, particularly after the season-ending ACL injury suffered by No. 1 running back Jerick McKinnon at the tail end of training camp.

Instead, the Niners will continue their tandem of runners Alfred Morris and Matt Breida in Week 2. But after San Francisco’s ground attack struggled to get much of anything going in Minnesota, Morris and Co. will be called upon to have a much better effort than the one showed last Sunday.

Morris averaged just 3.2 yards per carry on 12 attempts in Week 1, fumbling twice in the red zone — the second of which on the 1-yard line and was recovered by Minnesota, thwarting an excellent scoring chance for the Niners.

Granted, the Vikings defense was one of the best in the league against the run last year, so there’s no shame in seeing San Francisco’s ground game struggle.

But that shouldn’t be the case at home versus the Lions. The Jets managed 169 yards and 4.7 yards per carry in Detroit, including a 102-yard, two-touchdown performance by No. 1 running back Isaiah Crowell.

Morris should have his chances in Week 2, which will be an essential part of getting the 49ers offense back on track.