49ers roster: Jeff Wilson suddenly finds himself on the bubble

Always underappreciated but never overlooked, 49ers running back Jeff Wilson could be facing his most arduous challenge of making the 53-man roster yet.

Jeff Wilson Jr. isn’t a name most San Francisco 49ers fans think of when looking back at the top running backs of the head coach Kyle Shanahan era.

But when Wilson’s name is mentioned, everyone would rightfully give a nod.

Particularly in the wake of that infamous and injury-plagued 2020 campaign in which Wilson, amid all the injury attrition, ended up leading the Niners’ rushing attack with 600 yards and 10 all-purpose touchdowns, and he also managed two 100-yard games in the three contests in which he started.

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With underrated pass-catching skills, the 26-year-old former undrafted free agent out of North Texas has come a long way since his rookie campaign in which he appeared to be little more than an afterthought.

Heading into 2022, though, signs are pointing towards him being on the fringes of the roster once again.

Are the Niners poised to turn the page on a cult-like hero that’s assisted San Francisco’s offense when called upon the last three years? It’s certainly possible.

Let’s explore why.

What Jeff Wilson has to do to stay on 49ers roster in 2022

One of Wilson’s drawbacks early in his career was fumbling, yet he’s mostly corrected that ever since his three-fumble campaign back during his rookie season.

Not overly fast, the 6-foot and 213-pound Wilson is nevertheless known for being physical, and the 49ers sure missed that last year, as their short-yardage rushing attempts in 2021 (particularly on third down) weren’t great.

Hobbled by an 2021 offseason meniscus tear that sidelined him the first half of the year, though, it was clear Wilson wasn’t quite at 100 percent when he finally did return.

Getting back to full strength is mandatory, yet he’ll also have to fight off some of the competition towards the back end of the 49ers’ training camp roster.

Why Jeff Wilson is on 49ers roster bubble

For two years in a row, the Niners have used relatively high (Round 3) NFL Draft investments on running backs, Trey Sermon in 2021 and now Tyrion Davis-Price in 2022. With returning rushers like Elijah Mitchell and JaMycal Hasty looking to cement their own roles, San Francisco’s running back room is already crowded enough without Wilson in the mix.

Tack on the undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech, Jordan Mason, and Wilson’s chances diminish even further.

Now, Over the Cap has Wilson’s one-year contract with $530,000 guaranteed, and that’d be a lot to absorb for a player of his stature, should he be cut.

Yet there’s still a scenario in which he might not make it regardless of the financial ramifications.

Chances Jeff Wilson makes 49ers’ 53-man roster this season

Mitchell, the second-year pro who rushed for 963 yards over 11 games in 2021, isn’t going anywhere. Neither is Davis-Price.

Wilson joins Sermon, Hasty and Mason on the bubble, but their respective spots aren’t equal. Despite struggling his own rookie season, Sermon still looks to be a safer bet than the others.

Mason, meanwhile, is the wild card. According to multiple reports, his training camp practices have been excellent, and the UDFA could potentially be a dark horse to usurp someone like Wilson on the 53-man roster, assuming three other spots go to Mitchell, Davis-Price and Sermon in that order.

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Wilson has been missing practices with injury, too, which suggests San Francisco could entertain an injury designation for him to begin the season, not unlike what happened a year ago, and then hope he can return fully healthy as a midseason reinforcement.

It’s not ideal for Wilson, of course, who wouldn’t make the 53-man roster in that regard. But it might be his best shot at hanging around, especially if Mason continues to impress.