The San Francisco 49ers brought in three running backs for workouts after Jordan James was injured Monday, a move that highlights the team’s immediate concern about depth in the backfield.
Before the injury, James had been in the mix for the primary backup role behind Christian McCaffrey. He was competing with Kaelon Black, a third-round pick this spring, as the 49ers sorted out their running back rotation heading into the season.
The setback for James was described as a rib fracture, which could change the short-term picture in that competition. With one contender sidelined, San Francisco appears to be exploring its options and gathering information on available veteran or free-agent help.
For now, the injury adds uncertainty to the 49ers’ backfield depth chart behind McCaffrey. It also puts more attention on Black and any other runners the team may consider as it adjusts to James’ absence.
