Seahawks vs. 49ers: 5 top takeaways from San Francisco’s Week 15 win

No. 1: Jeff Wilson Jr’s role moving forward

Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. has been a surprise since being promoted to the 53-man roster, with his toughness and running ability. However, he has one fatal flaw…he fumbles. Wilson has now recorded a total of three fumbles from his last three games, each coming at crucial moments. He did not have a great track record during his time at college either, known for fumbling.

With the return of Matt Breida, Wilson saw decreased snaps Sunday, recording seven carries for 46 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. While Wilson is more than capable of keeping the chains moving and has shown good production, the ever-present reality of his poor ball security looms in the background.

It is hard for a coach to have confidence in a player who runs the risk of turning the ball over at any given moment. Sunday saw Wilson fumble the ball on the Seattle 40-yard line after safety Bradley McDougald’s helmet made contact with the ball:

https://twitter.com/Seahawks/status/1074418735593574400

Wilson also had an unsportsmanlike conduct call go against him, resulting in a 15-yard penalty against the 49ers. What would have been 2nd-and-3 on the Seahawks’ 8-yard line, ended up pushing the Niners back to 2nd-and-18 on the 23-yard line.

With the return of running back Jerrick McKinnon next season, along with a healthy Breida and Raheem Mostert, Wilson may very well see himself relegated to the back of the pack. Much like Mullens, he will have two remaining games to prove himself in order secure a position on the roster for 2019.