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" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteNiners Nationa San Francisco 49ers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsLibrary49ersOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 49ers Salary CapLevi’s Stadium Events49ers Transactions49ers Injury News49ers Press Conferences & Conference CallsFiled under:San Francisco 49ers News49ers Roster49ers 2019 roster battles: Who emerges as the lead back?New Tevin Coleman Jersey White ,93commentsBreaking down the 49ers’ most contested roster battles this offseason.PDTShareTweetShareShare49ers 2019 roster battles: Who emerges as the lead back?Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsThe San Francisco 49ers began their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. It’s the final portion of the offseason program before training camp in late-July. General manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan enter into Year 3 at the helm of the 49ers and their roster, still rebuilding, has several positions that are far from certain heading into the 2019 season. The competition at running back will be less about landing a roster spot and more about earning the backfield’s leading role.The locksThe 49ers signed Jerick McKinnon to a four-year, $30 million contract in March of 2018. After a promising training camp, McKinnon tore his ACL just days before the team’s Week 1 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. The loss made drastic alterations to Shanahan’s plan for his offense. McKinnon is due $5.75 million in 2019, $5.7 of which is guaranteed. He’s expected to be ready for training camp. McKinnon’s contract and the opportunity to show his quality in Shanahan’s offense essentially guarantees a roster spot.Another competitor for the starting role will be Tevin Coleman, who the 49ers signed to a two-year, $8.5 million contract in the offseason. Coleman comes from Atlanta having experience in the 49ers’ offense under Shanahan, the Falcon’s offensive coordinator in 2016. Coleman rushed for 520 yards and eight touchdowns that year, while adding 421 yards and four touchdowns through the air. $3.25 of his $3.6 million contract is guaranteed this season, making Coleman another lock for the 49ers’ final roster.The competitorsThere’s a good chance the 49ers carry four running backs on the team’s final 53-man roster. Both Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert, although listed as competitors, have a very good shot at making the team. Breida earned the leading role after McKinnon’s injury and put on an impressive showing in 2018. He carried the ball 153 times for 814 yards and three touchdowns, adding 27 catches for 261 yards and two touchdowns in 2018. Breida’s 5.3 yards per carry was good for 4th among NFL running backs. Nagging injuries hampered Breida’s production last season, but if he can stay healthy, he’s in line for a significant role in the backfield in 2019.Mostert is the only 49ers running back that offers value on special teams, authoring several highlight plays in 2018. Mostert grew as a running back as the season went on as well. Against Green Bay in Week 6, Mostert totaled 12 carries for 87 yards. In Week 9 against the Oakland Raiders, he carried the ball seven times for 86 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown. He averaged 7.6 yards per carry on the season before suffering a broken forearm against the Raiders. Mostert may not be a major player in the battle for snaps in the backfield, but his special teams ability give him a good chance of making the roster.Jeff Wilson Jr. was promoted from the practice squad in Week 12 to reinforce the 49ers’ ailing group of running backs. With Breida battling an ankle injury, Wilson was given a significant number of snaps to close out the season. He totaled 66 carries for 266 yards and 12 catches for 98. Wilson is a long-shot to make the 49ers’ roster, given the impressive stable of starting talent in front of him. He’s a strong candidate to land on the practice squad. Undrafted rookie Austin Walter’s best chance at remaining with the team will be on the practice squad.Pending a surprise cut Bradley Pinion Jersey White , the competition at running back should be more about earning snaps over a spot. Shanahan seems perfectly content to keep four starting-caliber options after seeing his backfield decimated by injury in 2018. McKinnon, Coleman, Breida, all with similar skill sets, all have the opportunity to carve out their own role this season. Mostert’s primary contribution will be on special teams (not to be undervalued) while filling in as the backup. The 49ers’ backfield may be set, but there’s still plenty of competition heading into training camp. The team also confirmed the signing of former Rice RB Austin Walter"The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have signed LB LaRoy Reynolds to a one-year deal. The team also confirmed the signing of former Rice running back Austin Walter. To get back to a 90-man roster, the 49ers waived defensive lineman Ryan Delaire in a corresponding move. Delaire was originally signed to the 49ers practice squad on September 26, 2018 and was promoted to San Francisco’s active roster on October 6, 2018. He appeared in one game prior to being waived on October 15. Delaire re-signed to the team’s practice squad on October 17 and was promoted to the active roster on December 29, 2018.We spoke about Walter yesterday. Here’s the press release from the team on Reynolds:Reynolds (6-1, 240) originally signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2013. Over the past six seasons with the Jaguars (2013-15), Chicago Bears (2015), Atlanta Falcons (2016-17) and Philadelphia Eagles (2018), he has appeared in 84 games (seven starts) and registered 59 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed on defense to go along with 43 tackles and two fumble recoveries on special teams. He also appeared in seven career postseason contests and registered one tackle on defense as well as four tackles and two fumble recoveries on special teams. In 2018 with Philadelphia, he appeared in all 16 games and ranked second on the team with nine tackles on special teams. He also appeared in two postseason games and registered one tackle on both defense and special teams. A 28-year-old native of Norfolk, VA, Reynolds spent four seasons (2009-12) at the University of Virginia. With the Cavaliers, he appeared in 45 games and earned All-ACC Honorable Mention honors as a senior in 2012 after finishing with 90 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, four passes defensed and 1.0 sack.