We have some names that the San Francisco 49ers are not going to be playing in the team’s preseason game against the Houston Texans. The list includes RB Jerick McKinnon, RB Matt Breida, TE George Kittle, DL Arik Armstead, OT Gary Gilliam, DL Solomon Thomas, LB Malcolm Smith, DL Kentavius Street, CB K’Waun Williams, and WR Max McCaffrey.
Several of these names are consequences from Week 1’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. Thomas went down with a concussion, Kittle and Breida hurt their shoulders, and Smith jumped off the field with a hamstring injury.
Others like Arik Armstead are long-standing injuries they are trying to heal while Kentavius Street isn’t surprising at all. McKinnon’s injury was sustained in practice following the Cowboys and many originally feared it may be a knee issue. It turned out to be an issue with his calf, but that was enough for the 49ers to pull him from preseason activity entirely.
With the lack of running backs, it’s going to let the remaining ones active fight for that roster spot. Joe Williams and Raheem Mostert will get their snaps as will Jeremy McNichols and maybe newly acquired back Alfred Morris. The battle for the 3rd running back spot will be a fierce one, and we can see how all three of the above names can do against some more fierce competition with the ones and twos.