Several still in running for backup spot to Hyde
SANTA CLARA >> Thursday’s exhibition finale offers the 49ers an apparently needed chance to select their running back corps behind incumbent starter Carlos Hyde.
That’s what coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday when asked whether the No. 2 job belongs to Matt Breida, an undrafted rookie who was first to relieve Hyde in two earlier exhibitions, including Sunday night’s 32-31 loss at Minnesota.
“No, I’m not going to predict any of that until after the game this week,” Shanahan said on a media conference call. “(Breida) has done a good job and we wanted to see him out there earlier in the game, especially against a good defense like Min-
nesota. He did a good job, and other guys did too.”
While Raheem Mostert and Joe Williams followed Hyde and Breida; two other contenders got no carries and have seen sparse action in exhibition play: veteran Tim Hightower and former Denver Broncos prospect Kapri Bibbs.
“We have some tough decisions to make at running back, but we’re going to let it all play out,” Shanahan added.
Hyde drew praise from Shanahan for what likely was his final action in exhibition play; most starters will sit out Thursday’s finale against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi’s Stadium.
Hyde had a 24-yard touchdown catch Sunday, but he’s averaged only 2.6 yards per carry in the exhibitions (17 carries, 45 yards).
“I know Carlos would love to have better stats and get that big play but he’s got to let the game come to him,” Shanahan said. “We have to give him better looks and a few more opportunities and that will happen for him eventually.”
Hightower, a seventhyear veteran who played in Shanahan’s offense at Washington in 2011, will get more snaps Thursday night and is “definitely in this mix,” Shanahan said, noting he needed to use the exhibitions to learn about younger players.
Hightower only played two snaps Sunday night (on special teams). His only three carries in exhibition action were in a blowout loss to Denver, when he fumbled on his first run and finished the night with minus-1 yard.
• Left tackle Joe Staley’s right knee issue is not expected to keep him out of the Sept. 10 season opener. Staley came out after Sunday’s opening series when he landed awkwardly on the knee in which he’s endured tendonitis, Shanahan said.
“He’s got some stuff in there,” Shanahan said. “He wanted to fight through it and probably could have. We wanted to be safe with him.”
Second-year tackle John Theus replaced Staley and, although he wasn’t perfect on pass protection, he “battled,” Shanahan said.
• In the wake of rookie linebacker Reuben Foster’s eight-tackle outing, Shanahan said: “He is further along than I anticipated in terms of the X’s-and-O’s part. Last night was the first time we all saw him really cut it loose.”
• The Houston floods are especially concerning to 49ers’ staffers with connections there, including special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, a Houston native who has a home in the city.
Shanahan and eight of his assistants previously coached with the Texans, and tight end Vance McDonald grew up an hour east of Houston.
“I know it affects a bunch of our coaches,” Shanahan said. “Some families have been evacuated. There are a number of players like Vance and others. Our prayers are with them. It’s a tough situation and hopefully we can find a way to do our part to help.”