Last offseason, the San Francisco 49ers must have viewed Jerick McKinnon as their future lead back. The team signed him to a four-year, $30 million contract coming off the heels of two straight 790+ scrimmage yard seasons.
Unfortunately, just days before the start of the 2018 regular season, McKinnon tore his ACL. He found himself on the injured reserve for his first season as a 49er.
Now, about a year later, McKinnon is nearing his return to the gridiron. According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan believes he'll come off of the PUP (physically unable to perform) list as early as Thursday, August 1st.
McKinnon is expected to be back and healthy for the start of the regular season. He should see snaps in the preseason to regain his past form. But, a starting job won't be given to him; not just because of injuries.
The 49ers, despite signing McKinnon to a big contract last season, added former Atlanta Falcons standout Tevin Coleman in the offseason. They also retained Raheem Mostert and Matt Breida.
With McKinnon, Coleman, Mostert, and Breida on the roster, the 49ers will be paying nearly $12 million, via Over The Cap, for a fearsome foursome of running backs. But, doing so is justifiable. The four previously listed excel in an outside-zone running scheme and can make an impact receiving the ball.
Come the 2019 regular season, expect to see each of the four backs heavily utilized in different roles, including playing receiver, to make one of the NFL's deepest groups of backs.
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