3 free-agent RBs 49ers could sign if Christian McCaffrey goes on IR

If the 49ers opt to shut Christian McCaffrey down for at least four weeks, they may be wise to grab one of these free-agent running backs.

The only thing worse for the San Francisco 49ers not having All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey in the fold because of calf and Achilles injuries to start the fresh new season is if they rush him back prematurely, then he suffers some sort of serious setback that all but derails the bulk of his 2024 campaign.

McCaffrey already missed Week 1, and signs are pointing to him being unavailable for the Niners' Week 2 road showdown against the Minnesota Vikings, too.

If that wasn't bad enough, some recent scuttlebutt suggests head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. are mulling over whether or not to place the reigning Offensive Player of the Year on injured reserve, which would keep him out at least four weeks while opening up a roster spot:

That might be the best option for McCaffrey's long-term health and San Francisco's own postseason aspirations. Combined with the effort backup running back Jordan Mason showed in Week 1, the hope would be the 49ers could absorb McCaffrey's would-be absence with minimal interruptions.

But the depth behind Mason is questionable.

Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) is out for the year, while Isaac Guerendo is an unproven rookie. Then, lastly, Patrick Taylor Jr. is almost exclusively a special teams ace.

Should the Niners have an extra roster spot after shelving McCaffrey, they'd likely target one of these available free-agent running backs.

No. 3: Jerick McKinnon

Normally, going after a 32-year-old tailback isn't the greatest of ideas, but this is a short-term fix.

Jerick McKinnon didn't exactly leave San Francisco on great terms back in 2021 after spending two years unable to contribute because of his own injuries, and the fact he helped the Kansas City Chiefs beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl last February probably stings a bit, too.

His lone healthy year with the Niners, 2020, resulted in six combined touchdowns. That has to count for something.

That said, McKinnon is more than familiar with Shanahan's offense and is a dual-threat weapon who'd probably be willing to put any ill feelings toward San Francisco aside if it meant he could collect a few weeks' game checks.

No. 2: Matt Breida

Adding another reunion, the 49ers actually engineered a re-sign with Matt Breida just ahead of the preseason when both McCaffrey and Guerendo were unavailable, giving the journeyman another opportunity to help bolster the depth chart even if he had little chance of making the 53-man roster.

Breida, who led the Niners in rushing back in 2018 with 814 yards, didn't exactly turn eyes in the preseason, but it's fair to admit he was almost exclusive running behind an offensive line comprised of third-string backups and practice squad-caliber players, many of whom are not on NFL rosters right now.

Even more than McKinnon, Breida would be up to speed on Shanahan's system and could help bolster the depth chart behind Mason.

No. 1: Kareem Hunt

If San Francisco wanted a fresh face, going with former Cleveland Browns rusher Kareem Hunt could be a simple move to add depth.

Hunt, the 29-year-old one-time Pro Bowler who once led the NFL in rushing back in 2017 with the Kansas City Chiefs, tallied 411 yards and nine touchdowns with Cleveland a year ago while also doubling as a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski runs an offense not unlike that of Shanahan, so giving Hunt a look on the free-agent wire wouldn't be out of the question, schematically.

Of course, all of this would be pending the 49ers' decision with McCaffrey atop the pecking order.

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