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49ers vs. Chiefs: Top 5 performances from preseason Week 3

By Robert Morrison

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 24: Running back Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers is forced out of bounds during the preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 24: Running back Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers is forced out of bounds during the preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – AUGUST 24: Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. #41 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes with the ball during the second half of a preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – AUGUST 24: Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. #41 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes with the ball during the second half of a preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Running Back Jeff Wilson

As is the case with defensive line, the running back room for the 49ers is pretty stocked. Along with the aforementioned Matt Breida, the position group already has newly signed Tevin Coleman, previous top performer Raheem Mostert and still-injured Jerick McKinnon.

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And it’s McKinnon’s injury that makes Jeff Wilson‘s performance against the Chiefs so interesting.

Wilson finished the game with 12 carries for 45 yards and two touchdowns, including this impressive bounce outside for his first score.

But the major case for Wilson is that he just runs hard. There’s not a lot of dancing around, looking for space; instead the former North Texas running back hits the hole and barrels straight ahead. He also has pretty good open field speed, even if it isn’t a noticeable as someone like Breida or McKinnon.

Wilson also presented a good showing last season, coming up off the practice squad after Mostert went down with an injury, ending the year with 66 carries for 266 yards, and 12 catches for 98 yards.

Still, Wilson’s ability to make the roster may come down to just one thing: the health of McKinnon. If the former Minnesota Viking is good enough to go — even if he’s inactive for a few weeks — he likely makes the roster anyway, leaving no room for Wilson (assuming he’d even clear waivers at this point, since McKinnon has to be on the roster to go on IR anyway).

That takes nothing away from Wilson’s performance on Saturday night. It just remains to be seen what impact, if any, it will have on his ability to make the final roster.