49ers vs. Texans: 5 bubble players to watch in preseason finale
By Peter Panacy
49ers player to watch vs. Texans No. 4: Running back Jordan Mason
San Francisco could theoretically keep five running backs on the 53-man roster this season, particularly in light of the fact No. 1 tailback Elijah Mitchell missed six games because of injuries last year and is dealing with a hamstring issue, currently.
Mitchell is expected back by the regular season, yes, and he’ll likely be joined by 2022 third-round rookie Tyrion Davis-Price and Jeff Wilson Jr., too.
But there’s a three-way battle for one, perhaps two more spots on the depth chart.
Trey Sermon is there and under the microscope, as we just mentioned, but so are JaMycal Hasty and Jordan Mason.
Mason has arguably been more explosive and decisive than either Sermon or Davis-Price over two preseason games, and the undrafted rookie’s 5.8 yards-per-rush average stands out for all the right reasons.
Granted, the bulk of Mason’s carries have come in the fourth quarter, going up against both the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings’ third- and fourth-string players who aren’t likely to survive roster cuts.
However, keep an eye on Mason once more to see whether or not he’s bumped up the depth chart during the game against Houston.
If so, it could be a sign Mason’s bid to crack the 53-man roster is getting stronger.