The San Francisco 49ers had deflating news for their running game just before the regular season when they announced Christian McCaffrey would miss Week 1 due to an Achilles/calf injury.
The 49ers had to place one league's most dangerous offensive skilled players on injured reserve as he battles bilateral Achilles tendinitis, and it's unknown when (or if) the superstar will play this season.
Fortunately, the offense found they had a reliable backup in Jordan Mason. The third-year back out of Georgia Tech has 114 carries for 609 yards and three touchdowns this season. However, he sustained a sprained AC joint in the 49ers' win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6.
Mason was limited in practice on Wednesday. Per ESPN's Nick Wagoner, Mason was spotted wearing a blue non-contact jersey in practice Thursday.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) October 17, 2024#49ers WR Deebo Samuel (wrist) and RB Jordan Mason (shoulder) are again in blue no contact jerseys today.
No Jauan Jennings (hip) for the second straight day.
DT Maliek Collins is back in uniform and participating after missing yesterday with a knee issue. pic.twitter.com/DBm5FJNxBj
With injuries affecting their top-two running backs in Week 7, the 49ers should be on the lookout to add help to the backfield before the trade deadline on Nov. 5. While running back Isaac Guerendo had an impressive 76-yard run against the Seahawks, the fourth-round pick is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry, sans his long run in Week 6.
The 49ers could look to trade with a team that gave them a boost to the backfield two years ago when they swapped Christian McCaffrey for four draft picks.
2022 Pro Bowl running back Miles Sanders would come to San Francisco at a much cheaper cost than McCaffrey. Chubba Hubbard is the lead back for the Carolina Panthers with 485 yards rushing this season. Sanders is a distant second, for now, with 98 yards through six games.
Running back Jonathan Brooks had his 21-day practice window open on Wednesday, and the Panthers might not have much use for Sanders when the rookie second-round pick returns to the 53-man roster.
Sanders' reserved role is another disappointment for the Panthers' offense after the team signed the former Penn State standout to a four-year deal worth $25.4 million in the 2023 offseason, per Spotrac.
The Panthers could consider sending Sanders to the 49ers in exchange for a Day 3 pick instead of potentially cutting him when Brooks is ready for action.
While Sanders is under contract through the 2026 season, his guaranteed salary ends after the 2024 season, meaning he's a cap-cut candidate before free agency next year. If the Panthers can agree to eat some of Sanders' remaining salary for the 2024 season, the 49ers could add a veteran back that could be of use in Kyle Shanahan's system.
Sanders has 898 carries for 4,238 yards and 22 touchdowns in his six-year NFL career. More importantly for a team without McCaffrey, the 27-year-old is an option for the passing game. He has recorded 162 receptions for 1,167 yards and three touchdowns.
Running backs are a critical part of Shanahan's offense. Entering Week 7, the 49ers are averaging the third most rushing yards per game (158), trailing only the Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers.
For a team that needs help keeping leads late in games, the 49ers can't have enough healthy talent in the backfield.
