Coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that he expects McKinnon (knee) to handle the lead role in the 49ers' backfield in 2019, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.
It's an odd comment given that McKinnon has yet to play a game for the team, and especially after Matt Breida (ankle) finished fourth in the NFL with an average of 5.3 yards per carry in 2018. The 49ers signed McKinnon to a four-year, $30 million contract last offseason, but the structure of the deal makes it relatively painless to release him after 2019. With all reports suggesting McKinnon is on or ahead of schedule in his rehab from a preseason ACL tear, the most likely scenario features the former Viking competing with Breida for top backfield duties during training camp. Shanahan may view McKinnon as the early favorite, but it should be an interesting battle to track all summer, with both players ultimately expected to handle significant roles.