SF 49ers depth chart: Predicting Week 3 starting lineup amid injuries

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Jerick McKinnon #28 of the San Francisco 49ers and John Franklin-Myers #91 of the New York Jets (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

SF 49ers Running Backs

Halfback: Jerick McKinnon

Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk

It might be something of an underrated storyline after all the other key injuries in Week 2, but the Niners suffering two key injuries to Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert could be serious in coming weeks.

Coleman remains a Kyle Shanahan favorite, at least in testing opponents’ defenses for weaknesses. Despite getting only 12 rushing yards on Sunday, Coleman still had 14 carries. Yet the bigger concern is Mostert, whose 80-yard scamper on San Francisco’s first play from scrimmage at New York set the tone for the game’s outcome.

Now, there’s a chance Mostert could miss some time with what ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported a mild MCL sprain:

49ers believe RB Raheem Mostert suffered a mild sprain of the MCL. How long Mostert will be sidelined depends on the MRI.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 20, 2020

Should this be the case, the SF 49ers would be forced to shake up their backfield quite a bit, likely starting running back Jerick McKinnon, who added a rushing touchdown last Sunday, and supporting him with running backs Jeff Wilson and the undrafted rookie, JaMycal Hasty, who is currently on the team’s practice squad.

Mostert has been the Niners’ best offensive weapon early in 2020, but at least McKinnon has flashed some early prowess over these first two weeks.