Isaac Guerendo injury update: Will 49ers RB play Week 15 after foot sprain?
The San Francisco 49ers got a great performance out of rookie running back Isaac Guerendo in his first career NFL start in Week 14 against the Chicago Bears.
However, the fourth-round rookie suffered a foot injury late in the contest. He was deemed "questionable" to return to the game but ultimately did not see the field again.
Guerendo's injury status will be of note given that the 49ers are playing a "Thursday Night Football" game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15. San Francisco is already thin at running back because of injuries to Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason and now Guerendo, so if he can't suit up, the 49ers will turn to their fourth different starting running back of the 2024 NFL season.
Here's what to know about Guerendo's injury and whether it will impact him ahead of "Thursday Night Football."
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Isaac Guerendo injury update
Kyle Shanahan confirmed Monday that Guerendo had suffered a foot sprain during the 49ers' 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears. Shanahan said the 49ers would "evaluate him over the next few days to see if he’ll have a shot" to play on Thursday night.
Shanahan originally told reporters during a postgame news conference that the team was "not sure" of the extent of Guerendo's injury.
"Possible foot sprain," Shanahan said while describing the injury. "X-rays didn't for sure show anything, so we'll have to look into it more tomorrow (Monday)."
That said, Guerendo was also asked about his injury after the game. He had a more positive outlook and noted that the team may have just been focused on keeping him healthy for "Thursday Night Football" in Week 15.
"Everything is fine," Guerendo told reporters, per NBC Sports Bay Area. "They were just being cautious. We got a quick turn around this week so just making sure we are good to go."
It isn't clear exactly when Guerendo suffered the injury, but his last offensive snap came with 10:45 left in the fourth quarter. He ran behind left guard for a gain of six but wasn't seen after that. The broadcast showed him walking to the locker room under his own power with members of the 49ers medical staff.
Guerendo racked up 78 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries while adding two catches for 50 yards to his stat line.
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Is Isaac Guerendo playing Week 15 vs. Rams?
Guerendo was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report before missing Tuesday's walk-through because of his foot sprain. He will likely need to return to the field on Wednesday to have a shot at playing on the short week.
Shanahan said Monday that the 49ers will "evaluate" Guerendo before deciding his availability for Week 15. The rookie implied Sunday that he believed he would be able to suit up for the short-week game against the Rams.
NFL teams playing on "Thursday Night Football" are required to release practice reports on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. If Guerendo is listed as a limited participant or better on any of those three days, that may give him a chance to suit up on Thursday.
If Guerendo is a non-participant, his status will become murkier for the key NFC West battle.
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Who is Isaac Guerendo's backup?
Patrick Taylor is Guerendo's backup at this point in the season. The 49ers signed the 26-year-old during the 2024 NFL offseason and he has remained with the team in a reserve role for most of the season.
Taylor has 14 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown in his first season with the 49ers. The Memphis product has handled 79 carries for 311 yards and two scores during his five-year career.
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49ers RB depth chart
The 49ers have four running backs on the 53-man roster at present, including Guerendo. Below is the expected pecking order among the quartet:
Isaac Guerendo
Patrick Taylor
Vaughn, 27, was once a third-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2020 NFL draft. He has 388 yards and two touchdowns on 105 career carries.
Abanikanda, 22, was a fifth-round pick by the New York Jets in the 2023 NFL draft. He has 70 yards on 22 career carries to date. The 49ers claimed him off waivers after losing McCaffrey and Mason to injuries, but he was inactive for their Week 14 win over the Bears.
It's worth noting that the 49ers' projected top three running backs for the 2024 NFL season – McCaffrey, Mason and Elijah Mitchell – are all on injured reserve. As such, Guerendo and Co. represent the 49ers' fourth- through seventh-stringers at the position.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Isaac Guerendo injury update: Will 49ers RB play Week 15?
