49ers’ Breida (knee) admits he’s not at 100 percent
NFL’s leading rusher has right knee injury
SANTA CLARA >> Matt Breida, who leads the NFL in rushing yards and yards per carry, sounded a cautious Friday note when asked about his chances of recovering from a right-knee injury in time to face the Los Angeles Chargers.
“It’s going to be a game-time decision. I have to feel comfortable,” the 49ers running back said in advance of Sunday’s game. “I’m not at 100 percent right now.”
Breida said he wants to play but added: “I’m not going to go out there and risk getting hurt. We have a long season to play.”
Breida has 274 rushing yards this season to tie Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliot for the league lead. He also averages 8.6 yards per carry.
But Breida planted awkwardly on a second-quarter run against the Kansas City Chiefs last week and, initially, he feared the worst. He thought it was an ACL.
With the hyper-extended diagnosis, Breida returned in the second half and even ripped off a 26yard run. But don’t read too much into that, he said.
“At that point, your adrenaline is going, so you don’t really feel much,’’ Breida said Friday. “So you’re playing through it.”
Things barely improved this week. Breida said he basically felt the same Friday as he did Monday, a day after the injury. That’s why he was still concerned after the final practice of the week.
“If I’m not going to be able to cut, then I’m not going to be able to run,” Breida said. “If I go out there and get hurt, it’s not going to help the team.”
Kyle Shanahan, too, expressed uncertainty.
“He’s been up and down a little bit this week,” the 49ers coach said. “He got a little bit more (practice time) yesterday. We kept him limited today just trying to manage the wear and tear.
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49ers (1-2) at Chargers (1-2), Sunday, 1:25 p.m., CBS
But ‘questionable’ is better than ‘doubtful’ so we’re hoping it works out.”
Alfred Morris (knee) is also listed as questionable on the injury report. The other running back on the roster is Raheem Mostert, with fullback Kyle Juszczyk also capable of carrying some of the load.
In other injury news:
• Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) is listed as doubtful. That puts Antone Exum in line to make a second consecutive start. It’s a tough challenge — quarterback Philip Rivers leads a Chargers offense that ranks among the NFL leaders — but Shanahan liked what he saw out of Exum in Week 3.
“Exum’s here for a reason,’’ Shanahan said. “I thought he got a lot better as the game went. I think he made some mistakes early in the game and I think once he played a little bit more I think it slowed down for him.”
• Guard Joshua Garnett (toe) and cornerback Richard Sherman (calf) are listed as out. Safety Adrian Colbert (hip) is listed as questionable.
• From the Chargers team headquarters, receivers Keenan Allen and Travis Benjamin were listed as questionable. Both were limited participants during Friday’s practice. Allen did not practice Wednesday or Thursday because of soreness in his right knee and a tooth. The sixth-year receiver is tied for the team lead in receptions (17) and is averaging 12.9 yards per reception.
• Defensive tackle Joey Bosa (foot), offensive tackle Joe Barksdale (knee) and linebacker Kyzir White (knee) will not play against the 49ers.