49ers roster: JaMycal Hasty threatened by new faces in 2022

After hanging around on the 49ers roster the last two seasons, JaMycal Hasty faces a dire situation entering 2022 with some new bodies at running back.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has a reputation for finding and developing hidden-gem running backs over the years.

It’s not looking as if the Niners’ undrafted free-agent pickup out of Baylor, JaMycal Hasty, will be one of them, though.

Granted, Hasty flashed here and there over his rookie season, including an impressive nine-carry, 57-yard performance against the New England Patriots back during his rookie 2020 season. But dealing with both injuries and a seemingly regular chance of being demoted to the practice squad, it’s fair to wonder what the future entails for the 5-foot-8, 205-pound running back.

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Hasty found himself a healthy scratch for three games last season and also didn’t play for three additional contests. And even when San Francisco was sorely hurting for running back production late in the year, it was wide receiver Deebo Samuel who got the call for more work on the ground, not an uptick in touches for Hasty.

And two fumbles on 39 touches last year isn’t exactly an endorsement for Hasty either.

Now, with some additional tailbacks on the roster heading into 2022, what’s the scenario Hasty faces between now and Week 1?

Let’s take a look.

Why JaMycal Hasty improves with 49ers in 2022

Running back Elijah Mitchell, who impressed with 963 rush yards his rookie season a year ago, does carry an injury risk, meaning there’s always the need to have ample depth at the position. And Shanahan’s offense is a run-first system anyway, meaning it’s not out of the question to carry four, perhaps even five tailbacks on a 53-man roster.

At 25 years old, Hasty’s scatback-like abilities could finally start rounding into form, and one might argue he has an on-field leg up over another one of the 49ers’ drafted running backs from a year ago, Trey Sermon.

While this doesn’t point to Hasty suddenly emerging as a top name in the rotation, there is room for him to be a part of it nonetheless, perhaps seeing a bit more than the 39 touches he got a year ago.

Why JaMycal Hasty already bottomed out with 49ers

Hasty’s short and squatty physique suggested he’d be a tough tackle, particularly in short-yardage situations. But the Niners, who struggled in these scenarios a year ago, either didn’t trust him to handle these duties or completely mismanaged his skill set.

Likely the former, especially considering San Francisco used a third-round pick in this year’s draft on a tough, physical runner out of LSU, Tyrion Davis-Price, who is one of the new faces who’ll threaten Hasty’s roster chances.

Read More: Tyrion Davis-Price will be much better than you think

Simply put, Hasty might have already hit his ceiling with the 49ers as a backend player who’ll only be activated in case of injury attrition taking its toll.

Chances of JaMycal Hasty making 49ers’ 53-man roster this season

The Niners have Hasty back on a one-year, $895,000 deal but with zero in guaranteed money and nothing by the way of a dead-cap hit, should he be let go by Week 1.

On the plus side, though, Hasty saw plenty of work during organized team activities and mandatory minicamp with both Mitchell and Davis-Price missing some time with minor injuries, so it’s good to see the former Baylor Bear getting some looks.

However, San Francisco’s running back room remains crowded:

• Tyrion Davis-Price
• JaMycal Hasty
• Jordan Mason
• Elijah Mitchell
• Trey Sermon
• Jeff Wilson Jr.

Mason, an undrafted free agent from this year, has equally impressed during workouts and could easily challenge Hasty for a spot on the depth chart. Yet it’s feasible neither of those two make the cut, assuming the 49ers don’t want to give up on Sermon yet and would prefer to keep Wilson, Mitchell and Davis-Price active on game day, too.

None of this helps Hasty’s roster chances, and there’s a real possibility he is already on the outside, looking in this offseason.