The 49ers appear to be interested in adding depth at the running back position behind All-Pro Christian McCaffrey.
San Francisco hosted 29-year-olds Jeff Wilson Jr. and D’Ernest Johnson for workouts, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday, citing sources.
The #49ers worked out veteran RBs Jeff Wilson Jr. and D’Ernest Johnson today, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Wilson was with San Francisco from 2018-22 then spent the last two-plus seasons with former Kyle Shanahan assistant Mike McDaniel with the #Dolphins. pic.twitter.com/nuWnyhEx5O
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 30, 2025
Johnson is a six-year NFL veteran and is coming off a 2024 campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he rushed for 143 yards on 32 carries as a reserve behind Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby. Johnson appeared in 14 games last season and played in 15-plus games during each of his first five campaigns.
Wilson is the familiar option. He signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and remained with the franchise until he was traded to the Miami Dolphins during the 2022 season. Wilson is coming off a nine-game season where he rushed for just 57 yards on 16 carries behind De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert.
Over 45 career regular-season games with the 49ers, Wilson rushed for 1,733 yards on 390 carries.
McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor and Jordan James — whom San Francisco selected No. 147 overall out of Oregon in the 2025 NFL Draft — are the current halfbacks on the 49ers’ roster.
The team’s premier backup in 2024 was 26-year-old Jordan Mason, who played a major role when McCaffrey appeared in just four games with several lower-body injuries. San Francisco traded Mason to the Minnesota Vikings during the draft for the No. 160 overall pick that became safety Marques Sigle out of Kansas State and a 2026 sixth-rounder.
The 49ers surely will consider all of the support available in the backfield after a playoff-less 2024 filled with depth issues.
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