5 biggest overreactions to 49ers' Monday Night Football win vs. Jets
By John Porter
Jordan Mason has solidified his role and bought more carries
This isn't really an overreaction, but it bears repeating.
When news filtered through that All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey would be out, many 49ers fans suddenly felt much worse about the team's chances in the season opener.
I wasn't sure why, as I tweeted prior to kickoff:
Obviously the 49ers will miss RB Christian McCaffrey, that goes without saying, but I'm a bit confused at the idea that some sort of Scott Hatteberg is playing instead. Think Jordan Mason will be fine.
— John Porter (@jporterdoes) September 9, 2024
It turns out, of course, that Jordan Mason was more than fine. He was fantastic: 147 yards on 28 carries, averaging over 5 yards a carry, and a touchdown (which realistically, should've been two, but for a terrible holding call on wide receiver Deebo Samuel).
Moreover, Mason was excellent as a pass blocker, and even found time to catch a pass as well.
He's not McCaffrey ( few are) but after an offseason where the Niners'acquisitions and draft picks threatened to push him to the roster bubble, Mason's ability to beat out the oft-injured Elijah Mitchell, show progress throughout training camp and the preseason, and now solidify that in a game the whole country was watching, has sealed his role on the team.
Mason hits holes hard, decisively, and with power. He's the perfect running back for the Kyle Shanahan zone-blocking system, and as it stands at the moment, there are oceans between him and other backup running backs like Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr.
The third-year pro likely to start Week 2 versus the Minnesota Vikings, given McCaffrey's health, and even without that, Mason has easily earnt a role now where he's going to get the ball on a regular basis. In 2022 and 2023, Mason found himself nicknamed "The Closer" for his bruising runs to finish out games.
On Monday, he flashed starting pitcher potential, too.