5 significant takeaways from 49ers preseason win vs. Chargers

No. 3: 49ers have a real competition for running back depth

The 49ers dressed only two running backs for the game, Wayne Gallman and JaMycal Hasty. The starter, Raheem Mostert, continued to rest in preparation for the regular season, while rookies Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell both sat with injuries.

Sermon is all but guaranteed a spot, but Mitchell, Gallman and Hasty are likely vying for two depth spots on the 53-man roster.

There’s a good chance one of those three won’t make it.

Gallman got the start and rushed for a team-high 72 yards on 15 carries, but Hasty was more of the workhorse back, getting 19 rushes for 58 yards and was the primary ball-carrier when the Niners were trying to run out the clock late in the game.

Meaningless, yes. But it’s something that should be noted.

Both players have solid pass-catching skills, and it seems likely both will be playing on an active roster this season. Somewhere.

Provided San Francisco is still reserving a roster spot for the injured Mitchell, who looked solid in training camp before suffering his injury.