After doing aplenty to silence doubters who questioned why the San Francisco 49ers drafted him so early last April, rookie running back Kaelon Black's early adductor injury in training camp put a cap on what'd previously been an impressive spring program.
Fortunately, just days ahead of the Niners' preseason Week 2 showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers, Black is back in action and enjoyed several head-nodding moments during joint practices.
With head coach Kyle Shanahan poised to play several of his starters for the exhibition tilt, but with All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey still nursing "tightness," there's a chance Black will see a hefty chunk of field time in what'll be his NFL debut.
That alone is reason for excitement, but there's more behind wanting to watch the first-year pro beyond just stepping on the field for the first time, albeit a preseason game.
49ers RB Kaelon Black should command plenty of attention vs. Chargers
San Francisco's depth behind McCaffrey is very much an open-ended question. But Black has a chance to seize the RB2 role as soon as Thursday night, given fellow rushers Jordan James (ribs) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) are both out with injuries.
Should the rookie showcase all the reasons why the 49ers drafted him so early—ability to make cuts, read lanes and possessing underrated pass-catching abilities—it'd go a long way toward carving out a key role on the depth chart.
Quarterback Brock Purdy is certainly excited to see Black in action.
"I thought he looked good hitting the hole and running hard," Purdy told reporters of his first-year tailback. "You could tell there’s a different level of intensity when he touches the ball. I’m excited to see what he does in live action too, with breaking tackles, hitting the gaps and stuff like that. But, I thought from the jump, K.B. came out running pretty hard."
A strong outing against the Bolts will not only aid Black in proving his critics wrong, but it'll go a long way toward alleviating concerns about the depth behind McCaffrey.
And it could effectively secure the No. 2 job for Black behind CMC, too.
Given the importance of an effective ground game in the Niners offense, the development of this storyline at the halfway point of the preseason becomes one of the most important aspects to watch when San Francisco visits L.A. on Thursday night.
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