Jordan James, the second-year running back, is back on the practice field, and let me tell you, his return is shaking up the 49ers’ backfield in a big way! The dude was sidelined with ribs, but now he is feeling better and ready to roll.
Injury Report Rollercoaster: Who’s Out, Who’s Back
Okay, so it was not all sunshine and rainbows for the Niners’ Saturday practice. Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling and veteran cornerback Deommodore Lenoir are both nursing shoulder injuries. They are both day-to-day and sat out practice, which is never what you want to hear, right? Plus, Renardo Green (hamstring), Austen Pleasants (knee), and Nick Martin (hamstring), who all got dinged up in Thursday’s game, were also chilling on the sidelines. Talk about a full injury report! Their defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, is set to talk after practice, but do not hold your breath for any big injury updates from him today. On a more positive note, wide receiver Mike Evans was back in action after dealing with some tightness from Tuesday’s joint practice. Right guard Dominick Puni and defensive tackle CJ West also made their return from concussions. West has not even hit the field in the preseason yet, so getting him back practicing is a welcome sight.
RB2 Battle Heats Up For The Season!
But back to the good news! Jordan James’ return is huge because Kaelon Black has been making some noise in the preseason. Remember back in OTAs? It was James, not Black, who was getting those crucial reps with the starters whenever Christian McCaffrey took a break. Now, James is back in the mix and definitely gunning to snatch that RB2 role right back from Black. This is not just a friendly competition, folks, this is a battle that could easily stretch deep into the regular season. Having three competent running backs is a serious luxury for any offense, and the Niners are definitely hoping for that kind of depth.
Tight End Shuffle: Who’s Sticking Around?
In other news from practice, the 49ers actually brought back undrafted free agent tight end Khalil Dinkins. Yes, you read that right, the tight end news we have all been, um, monitoring. They played five different tight ends in Thursday’s preseason game: Brayden Willis (37 snaps), Hayden Rucci (29), Jake Tonges (18), Luke Farrell (13), and Josiah Deguara (12). It looks like they might be trying to figure out if Dinkins is worth a practice squad spot. No word yet on who they would cut to make room for him, though.
So, while some key guys are still on the mend, seeing guys like James, Evans, Puni, and West back on the field is a massive boost for the Niners. The RB2 race is officially ON, and that is going to be a must-watch storyline as we get closer to actual football. It is all about who steps up and seizes the moment for them!
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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