49ers activate RB Jerick McKinnon from the PUP list

The San Francisco 49ers activated running back Jerick McKinnon from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, the team announced. He becomes the second player to be removed from the injury designation. San Francisco activated defensive back Jimmie Ward from the PUP list on July 30.

Center Weston Richburg and tight end Garrett Celek remain on the PUP list.

While McKinnon is now free to practice, the 49ers plan to ease him back onto the field by giving him some light work in walkthroughs and individual drills.

"I would think we would get him off PUP sooner than later," head coach Kyle Shanahan said on July 29. "That doesn't mean you guys are going to see him right out at practice right away."

McKinnon is nearly a year removed from the torn ACL he suffered before the start of last season. The injury occurred at the end of a light practice on September 1, 2018, just six months after the 49ers signed him to replace Carlos Hyde as the featured back.

McKinnon entered the NFL in 2014 as a third-round draft pick by the Vikings. He has registered 1,918 yards on 474 carries with seven touchdowns through his first four NFL seasons. McKinnon rushed for 1,109 combined yards on 309 carries with five touchdowns in 2016 and 2017. He also added 94 receptions for 676 yards with four touchdown catches during those seasons.

The 49ers added Tevin Coleman to the running back group this offseason with many experts expecting him to be the team's starter. Much of that has to do with him carrying the workload during the offseason program while McKinnon and Matt Breida sat it out. Both, however, are likely to contribute significantly this season.