Isaac Guerendo will make his first NFL start on Sunday as the injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers face the Chicago Bears. The rookie running back steps into the spotlight following injuries to Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, the team's top two options at the position.
The 49ers placed McCaffrey on injured reserve after the star running back sustained a PCL injury against the Buffalo Bills. Mason is expected to join McCaffrey on injured reserve in the coming days due to a high-ankle sprain, leaving Guerendo to shoulder the workload for the foreseeable future.
These final five games of the season represent a significant opportunity for the speedy rookie to showcase his potential as a featured back.
"I think he's ready to go," head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday. "He got off to a late start with injuries in preseason. I thought he finished in those games, especially that kick return he had versus the Raiders (a 93-yard return in the last preseason game), I think. He did some decent things when he started out. Didn't get a lot of carries, had some ups and downs, but got better through everything.
"And then, when he got the bulk of the carries—I want to say some more versus Seattle—he only got better, and he's gotten better throughout the year. So I think he's ready for this."
Guerendo has averaged an impressive 5.9 yards per carry this season, aided by his ability to break off big runs. On 42 carries, he has totaled 246 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 3.1 yards after contact per attempt.
Shanahan praised Guerendo's urgency and decisiveness as a runner.
"I think it takes guys some time," Shanahan explained. "You start to get a feel for it, if you've got the right stuff, the more you get reps, the more you can adjust to it, how hard you got to hit stuff, how quick those holes close, how, when there is a hole, how you have to hit at full speed and can't hesitate at all or it closes like that.
"So we've seen that stuff get better in practice, and we've seen it carry over to games."
Guerendo has five receptions for 19 yards. The coach believes the rookie can also make an impact in the passing game.
"Yeah, he can catch it," Shanahan added.