Carlos Hyde does not expect to play Saturday vs. Chargers

San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde spoke about his back situation with the media, and there is good news and bad news. Hyde told Mindi Bach he got good news about his MRI, but barring a miracle, he does not expect to play on Saturday. Frank Gore also met with the media and said he felt normal, but continues through the concussion protocol.

The 49ers signed Philip Tanner Wednesday morning, which was a fairly strong indication that at least one of the two running backs would be unable to play on Saturday. If neither can go, I would think the 49ers would sign another running back, but they also did go with just two running backs in Gore and Hyde for much of the season.

If Gore and Hyde can't go, we could be looking at a running back duo of Phillip Tanner and Alfonso Smith. It is kind of crazy how the depth chart has changed over the course of four months. The 49ers entered the preseason with the potential of Frank Gore, Carlos Hyde, Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James, Marcus Lattimore, Glenn Winston and Jewel Hampton. They were never going to keep all of them, but there were plenty of options. With two weeks left in the season, the running backs are just struggling to field another bodies.