The San Francisco 49ers should start getting some players back from injury just in time for the start of the regular season — or close to it. That could start next week after the team returns from its trip to Kansas City.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan jumped on KNBR Friday morning and discussed his plan for his running backs headed into Saturday's game against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman will split reps with the starting offense.
"Breida and Tevin will go the first half," Shanahan said on the "Murph and Mac" show. "Hopefully, we'll split the carries between them, too. Then we'll get Raheem (Mostert) going in the second half with (Jeff) Wilson and (Austin) Walter."
Jerick McKinnon, who had a setback after returning from his ACL injury nearly a year ago, won't travel with the team to Kansas City.
"He's going to stay back, and we're going to work him out hard while we're gone," Shanahan said. "We're going to leave that with a number of guys. Then hopefully, (he'll practice) when we get back, and we have the Chargers week. It is a short week. It will be our third game in 10 days, so not a lot of guys on our team will be able to practice.
"But I'm excited to try to put something together for the guys who have been injured; guys like (Weston) Richburg, guys like Jet. Trying to get them out there so we can get that ramped up a little bit so we can, as coaches and for them, just get a better idea of where they're at going into the Tampa week."
Shanahan added that there is still a chance that rookie defensive end Nick Bosa could play during that Week 1 contest against the Buccaneers. General manager John Lynch estimated on Thursday that the chances of Bosa being ready for that game are about 50-50.
"We'll see when we get to that week how he is, but it definitely isn't for sure," Shanahan said. "We're hoping for the best, and we know there's a chance."
The 49ers are less concerned with their other new pass rusher, Dee Ford. Shanahan says if Saturday were a real game, Ford would be playing. The coaches kept him out of practice this week as a precaution.
"He's been going full-speed on the side," Shanahan said. "He looks ready to go. He'll be practicing full next week for the chargers. I don't know if I'll play him. I haven't decided yet who will play in that game. We decide after this game, but he'll be ready to go Week 1. He'd be ready to go tomorrow night, if need be."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.