The San Francisco 49ers just made a move that’s got everyone talking, cutting veteran running back Khalil Herbert who they literally just brought on board at the beginning of August. Seriously, he was on the team for about two weeks before Adam Schefter dropped the news of his release. That’s a lightning-fast turnaround in Santa Clara, barely enough time to unpack your bags, let alone learn the entire playbook!
Herbert’s quick stint with the Niners included a bit of training camp action and one preseason game where he got six carries for 18 yards. Let’s break that down: he did manage to grind out nine yards after contact and even forced one missed tackle, which shows some grit. But clearly, it wasn’t enough to secure his spot long-term. So, what’s really behind this sudden hook? This move isn’t just a simple roster shuffle, folks. This could be a HUGE signal, a major green light, that Christian McCaffrey is actually on his way back to practice this week after sitting out with that muscle tightness. If that’s the case, then Herbert was just a temporary band-aid, and the Niners are banking on their superstar being ready to roll.
And let’s be real, they NEED McCaffrey back because their running back room is looking super thin right now. The Athletic’s Matt Barrows clued us in on the injury situation, noting that Jordan James, who’s nursing a rib injury, Kaelon Black, dealing with an adductor problem, and Isaac Guerendo, sidelined by a pec injury, were all just working on the side during Sunday’s practice. It gets worse: James and Black aren’t even expected back for practice this week, and there’s no way they’re hitting the field for the upcoming preseason game against the Chargers. Barrows did throw out the possibility they *might* return for the preseason finale, which is a long way off. With Herbert now out of the picture, that leaves only Sincere McCormick and Zamir White as the healthy backs on the roster. It’s absolutely wild to think that Deebo Samuel, who isn’t even listed as a running back on the depth chart, would likely be the first player up in the backfield if none of those top four guys were healthy. That’s a desperate situation, and it just screams how crucial McCaffrey’s return truly is for their early season form.
So, the Niners have a preseason showdown against the Chargers on the horizon, and every single eye is going to be glued to see if McCaffrey actually steps back onto the practice field this week. We’re all waiting to hear about the corresponding move after Herbert’s release, because this running back situation is a complete rollercoaster right now. Keep it locked right here for all the updates, because this backfield is going to define a lot for them, even in the preseason!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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