Report: 49ers to place RB Jerick McKinnon on IR

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the San Francisco 49ers are expected to place RB Jerick McKinnon on the injured reserve. Rapoport said that it’s not clear if this will be season-ending or if McKinnon will return. As we have gone over, McKinnon had a recent setback on his surgically repaired knee. He had a “flare-up,” and he may have to push the procedure to fix the issue.

If McKinnon were given the designation to return from injured reserve, he would count against the 53-man roster. I can’t imagine the team doing that, knowing that they already have difficult decisions coming up at critical positions. McKinnon plays a position where the 49ers already have good depth at, so his season appears to be over before it started, which is unfortunate for a player that has rehabbed as hard as McKinnon, and been around the team with the type of positivity he has as well.

If McKinnon were to return, he could do so on Halloween against the Cardinals if he makes the 53-man roster, and goes on IR Sunday. Again, that’s two months where you’re holding open a roster spot. Decisions, decisions.