49ers training camp: 5 players who are losing their depth chart battles
By Peter Panacy
49ers training camp faller No. 2: RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
While a lot more fluid than the situation at wide receiver, San Francisco’s running back room is yet another situation where there are likely too many bodies available for players the 49ers can keep on the 53-man roster this season.
This could negatively impact one of the Niners’ more-underappreciated offensive contributors from the last three seasons, Jeff Wilson Jr., who was hobbled by a meniscus tear last year and noticeably was missing some burst during offseason workouts. And in the wake of San Francisco adding rookie runner Tyrion Davis-Price during this year’s NFL Draft, along with impressive efforts from undrafted rookie Jordan Mason, Wilson’s spot on the depth chart is fairly in question.
Even if he has moments like this:
#49ers biggest run of the day:
— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) August 7, 2022
Jeff Wilson Jr. took a handoff from Brock Purdy, stuck a move that stunned Tayler Hawkins and ran down the field until Tariq Castro-Fields was able to catch up with him
That’s a positive for Wilson, yes. But it’s also with the third-string unit with the veteran matching up against rookie defenders. Those are matchups Wilson should easily win, and he did in this particular case.
However, even if he’s not necessarily in immediate danger of losing a roster spot, it sure doesn’t seem as if Wilson is close to unseating the bulk of other tailbacks the 49ers have, names like Davis-Price, Elijah Mitchell and a reinvigorated Trey Sermon.
Perhaps an RB4 designation is what Wilson is look at in 2022.