The San Francisco 49ers have signed former New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda to help replace injured players Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason. The team made room for Abanikanda by placing McCaffrey on injured reserve. Abanikanda was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and appeared in six games last season, rushing 22 times for 70 yards and adding seven receptions for 43 yards. He has not played in the 2024 season thus far.
In addition to Abanikanda, the 49ers have signed running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn to their practice squad. Vaughn, 27, has played in 43 career NFL games, all with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over his career, he has rushed for 384 yards and two touchdowns on 103 carries, along with 14 receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown. Vaughn joins Patrick Taylor Jr. on the 49ers practice squad as the team adds depth to its running back group.
With McCaffrey and Mason both injured, the 49ers will now rely on Isaac Guerendo as their starting running back. Guerendo, a fourth-round draft pick this year, has appeared in 12 games, rushing 42 times for 246 yards and two touchdowns. He also has five catches for 19 yards. Guerendo performed well when McCaffrey was out earlier in the season, including a standout performance against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6 with 99 yards on 10 carries.
Guerendo also impressed in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, rushing for 85 yards and a touchdown. His second career touchdown came this past Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. The rookie running back has shown promise and will now step into a larger role with McCaffrey sidelined.
The 49ers’ running back situation has drastically changed since the start of the season. McCaffrey was expected to lead the backfield, with Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason as key contributors. However, McCaffrey has struggled with injuries, including a calf strain and Achilles tendinitis in both legs. He is now on injured reserve due to a PCL injury, which will sideline him for an extended period.
Mitchell was placed on injured reserve earlier in the season after suffering a hamstring injury during training camp in late August. Now, Mason, who was expected to play an important role, is also heading to injured reserve due to an injury. These injuries have left the 49ers’ running back room severely depleted, forcing the team to rely on lesser-known players to fill the gaps.
The addition of Abanikanda, Vaughn, and Guerendo reflects the 49ers’ efforts to manage their running back situation amid these injuries. The team is now turning to younger players, including their rookie running back Guerendo, to carry the load. While the 49ers had a very different expectation for their backfield at the start of the season, they are now looking to their new and developing talent to step up in McCaffrey’s absence.
