49ers training camp: 3 storylines no one is talking about

49ers Traning Camp Storyline No. 1: Battle for Fourth Running Back Spot

Running backs Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon are all going to make San Francisco’s 53-man roster as long as they’re all healthy. The biggest X-factor, of course, was McKinnon after missing the last two years recovering from an ACL tear. But all reports have stated he’s looked sharp in camp and is poised to revitalize head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

That offense, by the way, is still predicated on the run after ranking No. 2 in the league last year without a quarterback known for rushing, unlike the No. 1-ranked Baltimore Ravens.

So, just like last year, one should expect Shanahan to keep four halfbacks on the roster, meaning there’s an opening for a fourth and final tailback on the Week 1 depth chart.

But who will it be?

The Niners cleared up some of the logjam by waiving undrafted free-agent runner Salvon Ahmed earlier this week, and he was subsequently claimed by the Miami Dolphins. That essentially leaves fellow UDFA running back JaMycal Hasty, who has been impressive enough in camp as both a multi-cut scatback and receiving option out of the backfield, and the returning veteran, Jeff Wilson, whose own pass-catching abilities shouldn’t be understated.

Hasty might be the more intriguing of the two, yet Wilson offers up size and strength unlike the rest of San Francisco’s runners.

For now, it seems to be an open-ended battle for the fourth and final spot.