5 questions 49ers must answer in preseason game vs. Chargers

No. 3: Is JaMycal Hasty worth a roster spot?

Throughout much of training camp, it wasn’t too hard to find practice reports highlighting how impressive San Francisco’s two rookie running backs, Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell, were performing.

Sermon and Raheem Mostert are essentially guaranteed roster spots, but the other two remaining rushers on the depth chart are yet to be determined.

And the situation is much more fluid now with Mitchell likely sidelined for the rest of the preseason with a hip injury.

The two biggest beneficiaries of Mitchell’s absence are the veteran, Wayne Gallman, and the second-year pro, JaMycal Hasty — the latter often considered to be the odd man out despite showing some promise in limited action a year ago.

Kyle Shanahan might want to keep Gallman around, if for no other reason than his above-average pass-blocking skills and veteran poise.

So, that leaves the remaining discussion surrounding Hasty and whether or not he’d be a priority over Mitchell at this point, who might end up being a candidate for an injury designation to start the season.

Hasty led all 49ers ball-carriers against the Chiefs with 10 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. And while a lost fumble wasn’t a good look for him, the upside might be too good to hope the Niners can stash Hasty on the practice squad.

The game against the Chargers could end up determining a lot.