The San Francisco 49ers added some reinforcements to their offensive backfield Thursday.
The Niners signed veteran journeyman running back Ameer Abdullah to a one-year contract, adding depth to their RBs room.
Abdullah, a second-round pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2015 NFL Draft, has played for the Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers over his 10-season career. He had 311 rushing yards and two touchdowns and had 40 catches for 261 receiving yards and three touchdowns for the Raiders in 2024.
Why Did The San Francisco 49ers Sign Ameer Abdullah?
The Niners are in the midst of a catastrophic rash of injuries, especially to their wide receivers. Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall are all out of practice, so they are simply in need of bodies right now.
Plus, although Christian McCaffrey expects to rebound from leg injuries that cost him all but four games a season ago, San Francisco will want to ease him back into the lineup. McCaffrey is still one of the best running backs in the NFL when healthy, but he has missed double-digit games in three of the past five seasons.
Though they did draft Oregon rookie Jordan James in the fifth round in April, the 49ers also lost backup running back Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency this off-season.
So, Abdullah can join Isaac Guerendo and James as insurance for McCaffrey, especially since Abdullah is a great receiving option out of the backfield.
Though a prolific rusher in college at the University of Nebraska, in three seasons with the Raiders, Abdullah had 84 catches for 603 receiving yards and four touchdowns and boasts 203 catches for 1,468 yards and 11 career receiving touchdowns in 141 games.
What Other Moves Did The 49ers Make?
Abdullah was not the only addition the 49ers made Thursday, since San Francisco also added wide receivers Marquez Callaway and Andy Isabella to one-year contracts.
Callaway had a spectacular start to his career with the New Orleans Saints, since he posted 83 catches for 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns in his first 42 games — especially in 2021, where he set career highs with 48 catches, 698 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
But Callaway’s career has fallen off since. He does not have a reception since the 2022 season and played just five games for the Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in that span — though he has been on the practice squads for the Saints, Bucs and Pittsburgh Steelers in that span.
Isabella, like Callaway, is a journeyman receiver that has not caught a pass since 2022. He has 33 catches for 447 yards and three touchdowns over his five-season, three-team NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens.
Also like Callaway, Isabella was a member of the Steelers practice squad, but most recently suited for Buffalo in 2023.
Adding Callaway and Isabella, again, gives quarterback Brock Purdy some receivers to throw to, especially after Jennings tweaked his calf at practice, which coach Kyle Shanahan called a “re-aggravation.”
According to published reports there is no timetable for Jennings to get back on the field.
