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We may have an explanation as to why the 49ers stockpiled running backs in the draft. It was a position which, while not exceedingly deep, didn’t seem like a glaring need. Now we have a fuller picture.
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Jeff Wilson Jr., who built on his 2019 season with a breakout campaign in 2020, tore his meniscus. The severity of the tear means he’ll miss four-to-six-months and is expected to miss the start of the season.
This was a repair of the meniscus for Wilson, not a trim, which can have a player back in a few weeks. Depends on the type of tear (Wilson’s knee joint was locked, I’m told, which is never good) and also a better long-term option for the player. https://t.co/wquEtn8jxV
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 25, 2021
Wilson is a relentless, difficult-to-tackle runner and backfield receiving option who scored touchdowns with astonishing efficiency over the past two seasons. He has 15 combined touchdowns over the last two seasons (11 as a runner, 4 as a receiver), 10 of which came last season in just 12 games.
On 153 carries and 17 receptions over the past two years, that’s a rushing touchdown once every 13.9 touches and a receiving touchdown once every 4.25 touches. In total, he’s averaging a scor every 11.33 touches.
San Francisco doubled up on running backs in this year’s draft, trading up to take Ohio State running back Trey Sermon with the 88th overall pick, and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s Elijah Mitchell with the 194th overall pick. They also added former Giants back Wayne Gallman just before the draft. At this juncture, it seems like the competition for the fourth running back spot will be between Gallman and JaMycal Hasty, who had a few bright moments last season.
