San Francisco 49ers Bolster Running Game with Two New Additions

With Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason likely out for the rest of this season due to PCL and ankle injuries, respectively, the San Francisco 49ers are down to one healthy running back on their active roster in little-used rookie Isaac Guerendo.

Even though their chances of making the playoffs are virtually nil due to their 5-7 record and three-game losing streak, they still have five games left to evaluate their situation and try to hold onto a shred of their dignity.

On Tuesday, the Niners claimed running back Israel Abanikanda off of waivers, and they also signed RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn to their practice squad while bringing back wide receiver Ronnie Bell to the practice squad.

Abanikanda was a fifth-round draft pick by the New York Jets in 2023 after three seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2022, he tallied 1,431 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns, both of which led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and he was the runner-up in the voting for the ACC Player of the Year

Vaughn had been with San Francisco back in August and was signed to their practice squad late in the month. The team ended up releasing him on Nov. 12.

Bell, meanwhile, was waived just last week. In two NFL seasons, both of which came with San Francisco, the 24-year-old has brand totals of eight catches, 90 yards and three touchdowns.