The San Francisco 49ers have already been decimated by injuries at the running back position. The trade for Brian Robinson Jr. did a lot to shore up their running back depth, but they could sign recently cut Frank Gore Jr. to add some depth.
Gore Jr., the son of 49ers legend and likely future Hall of Famer Frank Gore, had a solid preseason with the Buffalo Bills. He had over 100 rushing and receiving yards but when push came to shove the Bills were willing to part ways with him.
The Southern Miss product had some solid seasons in college, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his last two collegiate seasons. Despite this, he went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft but Buffalo swooped in to sign him as an undrafted free agent.
He did not see any NFL action in his rookie season as he spent time on the practice squad. Now, he will have to find a new home before he can get his first taste of the NFL. That could be with the 49ers.
49ers have an opportunity to sign Frank Gore Jr. after he was released by the Bills
While San Francisco seems set in their running back room right now with Christian McCaffrey, Robinson, Isaac Guerendo, and Jordan James, a player Frank Gore Sr. had a role in the 49ers drafting, looking like they will be on the 53-man roster.
San Francisco had to make a tough call by cutting veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. He could still wind up on the team's practice squad, but if the Niners are unable to retain him maybe Frank Gore Jr. would make sense as a depth piece to keep on the practice squad.
Gore Jr. has a smaller build and is only 5-foot-8, but he could be a decent change-of-pace back if given the opportunity with his low center of gravity.
If the 49ers did sign him and he ended up seeing considerable playing time this season, that would mean the team had injury calamities far greater than the ones they experienced last year with their running backs which would be astounding.
He still makes sense as a practice squad depth piece and it would make for a nice feel-good story if he got to be part of the organization that his dad left such an indelible mark on during his playing career.