49ers lose running back Tevin Coleman to knee injury, rushing attack struggling in Seattle
The 49ers are now without Coleman, Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, Jr.
Running back Tevin Coleman hadn’t played since Week 2 due to a knee injury, but with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, Jr. on injured reserve, the 49ers were eager to welcome him back to the practice field this week.
Unfortunately for Coleman and the 49ers’ rushing attack, his return didn’t last long.
Coleman has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks with another knee injury, leaving the 49ers with only two healthy running backs.
Coleman rushed three times for 20 yards on Sunday and was ruled out early in the second half with the 49ers trailing 20-7. Undrafted rookie JaMycal Hasty has been the 49ers’ leading rusher, but hasn’t been able to match the effectiveness of the other tailbacks the team has used this season.
Hasty had 12 carries for 29 yards when Coleman was ruled out for the rest of Sunday’s game. Veteran Jerrick McKinnon also had two carries, but neither netted the 49ers more than a yard.
The 49ers’ struggles on the ground come a week after Wilson stepped up in the absence of Mostert and Coleman and enjoyed the first 100-yard rushing performance of his career. The former undrafted free agent out of North Texas had three touchdowns last week, but injured his ankle in the third quarter in New England and ended up on injured reserve.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan is running out of depth at the running back position and won’t have much time to figure out a solution if Coleman is sidelined beyond this week as the 49ers play again on Thursday at home against the Green Bay Packers.