Remember that 27-7 beatdown the San Francisco 49ers put on the Los Angeles Rams last weekend? Well, the biggest shocker wasn’t only the final score, it was how they split carries in the backfield, with rookie Kaelon Black getting four more touches than Christian McCaffrey. Black ended up with 14 carries for 65 yards, while McCaffrey had 10 rushes for 68 yards. That’s a serious shift for a guy who’s been the undisputed workhorse for years.
The Rookie Who Earned His Shot
Black, a surprise third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has clearly caught the coaching staff’s eye this offseason. San Francisco went to him early and often against the Rams, letting him ride a hot hand as the run game absolutely flourished. General manager John Lynch laid it out on KNBR: they wanted to rotate backs, but Black had to earn it. And he did. Lynch said Black “through the way he performed in training camp, him being on his assignments, his ability to pass protect earned him the right.” Head coach Kyle Shanahan backed that up, saying Black “earned in training camp to be our number two back.” He showed everyone how attentive he was, how much he knew, and how much he was studying, whether he got reps or not. That kind of dedication gets you on the field, even when you’re backing up a superstar.
McCaffrey’s Role Is Shifting, Like It Or Not
For years, the big debate in San Francisco has been about taking McCaffrey off the field. He’s a three-down back who racks up touches, making rotation tough. But Lynch made it clear there’s a “vision” for this new approach. He admitted it’s “hard to take Christian off the field” and that “Christian doesn’t like coming off the field,” but the goal is to “keep people healthy in a game” and “keep people fresh for a season.” That’s a pretty clear signal, isn’t it? The 49ers still plan to give McCaffrey “workhorse load of touches in certain games,” but it sounds like those games might not be as frequent with Black proving himself. Lynch said Black “had a hot hand there. Christian ran it when he had his opportunities extremely well. The name of the game is to win, and running the football was a big part of that win.”
So, will McCaffrey still get those monster touch games? Lynch promises they’re coming. But after seeing Black tear it up and hearing the coaches’ commitment to rotation, it’s clear the 49ers are trying something new to keep their stars fresh and win games. How often Black gets the “hot hand” will definitely be something to watch.
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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