49ers roster: 5 players who have a ‘chip on their shoulder’ in 2022

Javon Kinlaw #99 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Javon Kinlaw #99 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Trey Sermon, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers running back Trey Sermon (28) Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4: 49ers running back Trey Sermon

While there aren’t any reports of second-year running back Trey Sermon lashing out at reporters, there isn’t any shortage of concerns surrounding whether or not the former Ohio State tailback will cut it with the Niners after a massively disappointing rookie season in which he rushed for a mere 167 yards and found himself relegated to the back end of the depth chart by 2021’s end.

Sermon, a Round 3 draft pick a year ago, initially found himself on the losing end of the running back battle to fellow then-rookie, Elijah Mitchell, who now enters 2022 as the likely top rusher after reaching 963 yards his own first year in the pros.

And after San Francisco used yet another third-round pick on a running back this year, Tyrion Davis-Price, it’s understandable why Sermon might be questioning his own role heading into the new season.

The latest addition of Davis-Price could cut two ways. It might provide insurance against Sermon ultimately failing with the 49ers, but it’s also possible he winds up feeling slighted to the point where he enters his sophomore year with a bit of an edge.

Even if the Niners are more interested in developing Davis-Price now, they’d still love to see the latter pan out.

So would Sermon.