Team news: San Francisco 49ers | Page 10

Ty Davis-Price or Jordan Mason? Kyle Shanahan said the two will compete in practice this week to see who will be the No. 2 runner behind Jeff Wilson on Sunday. "We'll go with the hot hand in the game."

Wilson might have to earn his playing time, despite being the starter and a popular waiver pick up this week. If one of Davis-Price or Mason steps up, it wouldn't be a shock to see Shanahan give them more work. Deebo Samuel will likely factor in the running game as well. Wilson is at least the guy this week but there may be some reason to worry about his long term fantasy value.

49ers TE George Kittle (groin) will not return to practice today, per Kyle Shanahan.

Related players: Tyler Kroft, Ross Dwelley

Kittle didn't play in Week 1 after being listed as questionable. However he didn't practice all last week and this week now isn't off to a good start. It was a sloppy Week 1 game but the Niners didn't get much out of their TE position as Kroft and Dwelley each had one catch.

Jeff Wilson appeared in nine games last season after recovering from a torn meniscus in a knee. When he did play, he didn't look much like the player who led the team in rushing in 2020. Another year removed from that injury, Wilson appeared to be closer to his former self in training camp, though he managed just 22 yards on nine carries after replacing Mitchell at rain-soaked Soldier Field on Sunday.

"We've always been comfortable with Jeff, just because of his experience and what he has done here," Kyle Shanahan said. "We know what we're going to get."

Related players: Elijah Mitchell, Tyrion Davis-Price, Kyle Juszczyk, Jordan Mason, Marlon Mack, Deebo Samuel

What the Niners may not be comfortable with is what's behind Wilson at this point, though. Davis-Price is a rookie who was inactive in Week 1 behind undrafted rookie Mason. Mason played on special teams, however. The team signed Mack but he couldn't make the Texans roster. It's possible Samuel sees an uptick in rushes. The team seems like a Wilson injury away from a big problem at RB.

49ers are signing former Texans’ RB Marlon Mack to their practice squad, per source.

Related players: Jeff Wilson, Tyrion Davis-Price, Kyle Juszczyk, Jordan Mason

Wilson is expected to be the starter but Mack gives a little more security on the depth chart should he be needed as Davis-Price is a rookie.

Due to the sprained MCL that Elijah Mitchell suffered Sunday at Chicago, the sophomore running back is expected to miss about two months.

Related Players: Jeff Wilson, Tyrion Davis-Price, Jordan Mason

The 49ers' yearly injury woes continue right out of the gate, with Mitchell unlikely to return until at least the middle of the season. Behind him in Week 1, Jeff Wilson logged nine rush attempts and ran 17 routes, the fourth most on the team behind Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Jauan Jennings. It would appear he is most likely to fill in as the team's RB1.

49ers TE George Kittle (groin) is not expected to play Sunday against the Bears.

Kittle was listed as questionable for Week 1 but did not practice all week after suffering the injury on Monday. The 49ers are erring on the side of caution here with it only being Week 1. The 49ers are playing the long game here and playing it safe with Kittle. Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley and Tyler Kroft are the other tight ends on the San Francisco roster.

George Kittle has missed the last three days of practice due to a groin injury but was quoted as saying, “Feeling significantly better than where we were at Monday, even better than Wednesday, even better than Thursday. Taking great steps forward. Definitely doing everything I can to be on the field Sunday. I’ve had games in the past where I haven’t practiced all week and played. Hopefully, getting off the plane, I feel better tomorrow and Saturday, and then I have an actual opportunity to be out there and play.”

Related Players: Charlie Woerner

Judging by his comments, a betting person would likely put money down that Kittle plays on Sunday, but to what extent may be a question. In the first game of the season against the lowly Bears, the 49ers could be conservative with one of the, if not the, best all-around tight ends in the league. Charlie Woerner is listed as the TE2 on the depth chart, and the overall offensive explosiveness would take a hit if Kittle has to spend some or all of Sunday on the sideline.

49ers injury alert:
Tight end George Kittle has a groin issue and won't practice today.

Related players: Tyler Kroft, Ross Dwelley

The tweet quoted Shanahan as saying he, "Was hoping [Kittle would] be good today, did little Monday, we’ll have to see day by day." Owners will want to monitor this leading up to Sunday. Kroft and Dwelley are up next on the depth chart. The 9ers do have an early game at Chicago in Week 1 so owners will be able to adjust.

The Panthers also changed Christian McCaffrey’s preseason practice routine, never having him suit up three days in a row once they put on the pads. The Panthers have studied the usage of Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk, two heavy-usage backs. They’ve at least considered the idea of using McCaffrey more in the slot.

Related players: D'Onta Foreman

The story didn't specify anything more about McCaffrey in the slot, other than it could help keep him healthy. Sunday’s game against the Browns will be McCaffrey’s first since that Miami game during Thanksgiving weekend last year. Like last preseason, McCaffrey did not play in any of the three exhibitions as the Panthers tried to have him at 100 percent for the start of the regular season, the story said. The team signed Foreman to take some of the workload, but the story said McCaffrey is still expected to have a huge role in the offense.

The 49ers have waived RB Trey Sermon.

Related players: Elijah Mitchell, Jeff Wilson, Tyrion Davis-Price, Kyle Juszczyk

David Lombardi reports if Sermon clears waivers it's possible he'll be back. Following the 9ers RB situation probably made you dizzy this summer. Sermon, at one point, was called the clear RB2 by some who follow the team, but that's no longer is the case. Mitchell will be the lead back and after that a combination of Wilson and the rookie Davis-Price.