Jeff Wilson could see increased role with 49ers in 2020

The San Francisco 49ers seldom used running back Jeff Wilson in 2019, yet pending changes at the position suggest he could be in for a bigger role this upcoming season.

Just before the San Francisco 49ers finalized their 53-man regular-season roster ahead of Week 1 in 2019, there was rightfully a lot of speculation the team would waive undrafted free-agent running back Jeff Wilson.

After all, the Niners appeared to have their depth chart at the position laid out already. Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida were to be the featured backs, while Raheem Mostert was going to act as a third-string option and special teams ace.

Even with fellow runner Jerick McKinnon landing back on injured reserve, there simply didn’t seem to be much of a spot for Wilson.

As things turned out, Wilson didn’t make the 53-man roster, instead being placed on the practice squad.

Yet that was short-lived, as Wilson was quickly promoted to the active roster after Coleman suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And that’s where the 6-foot-0, 194-pound Wilson would stay for the rest of the year and into the playoffs.

While he wasn’t used often — just 27 carries for 104 yards — he did come up with some huge moments, which included four touchdowns on the ground and a game-winning touchdown reception in Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals:

Heading into 2020, the 49ers’ running back situation isn’t anywhere near figured out.

Breida, who was a clear-cut star in 2018, appeared to fall out of favor with head coach Kyle Shanahan down the stretch, seeing his touches cut into by Coleman and an ever-increased role with Mostert.

Mostert will be part of San Francisco’s plans this upcoming season. That part is for certain. As for the rest, it’s far less certain. Breida is a restricted free agent. And while it seems highly likely the Niners tender him, one can still question what his future role will be. On top of that, Coleman enters the final season of his two-year free-agent deal signed in 2019. But there’s zero in guaranteed or dead money in year two of Coleman’s contract, and the cap-stressed 49ers could feasibly make him a cap casualty this offseason.

McKinnon, too, is another player who could be off San Francisco’s roster this offseason.

Wilson, meanwhile, is an exclusive-rights free agent in 2020. But that essentially means he only can negotiate with the team owning his contract, the 49ers. There’s little reason to assume he won’t be back for training camp.

And potentially finding himself in a larger role this upcoming year.

Shanahan has long had a knack for identifying and developing unheralded running back talent over the years. Mostert and Breida are two prime examples, and Wilson’s limited production last year suggests the same could happen for him as well.

So, if the Niners do end up shaking up their running back depth chart during the offseason, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Wilson emerge as much more than a reserve option buried deep on the depth chart.