Breaking down 49ers practice squad RB Jeff Wilson amidst running back injuries

Looks like the injury bug hasn’t escaped the 49ers just yet. Before the season even began Youth Weston Richburg Jersey , projected starter Jerick McKinnon was injured and out for the season with a torn ACL. This past weekend against the Cardinals, budding star Matt Breida went down with an ankle injury.“[RB Matt] Breida, he’s not going to practice on Thursday,” head coach Kyle Shanahan explained to the media on Monday. “It was positive news. It wasn’t a high ankle sprain, but it’s still definitely a serious sprain. So, probably end up being doubtful this week.”With McKinnon and Breida sidelined, that leaves running backs Alfred Morris and Raheem Mostert still healthy on the game-day roster. I suspect that Shanahan will want to add a third running back to that mix for this Monday’s game in Green Bay.San Francisco brought in free-agent running backs Shane Vereen, Charcandrick West, Andre Ellington, Matthew Dayes, and Jeremy McNichols, per ESPN’s Field Yates. While they continue to look outside the building for a potential filler running back, I believe the answer’s within the building on the practice squad — Jeff Wilson Jr.Wilson Jr. is a true dual-threat rookie out of North Texas. During his four-year collegiate career, he rushed for 3,206 yards and 32 TDs, while also catching 70 passes for 527 yards out of the backfield. He’s flashed some potential in the preseason and deserves the third spot behind Morris and Mostert.Against the Houston Texans Cheap Fred Warner Jersey , Wilson Jr. had one of his biggest runs of the preseason, bursting through the offensive line, gaining six on the play. His decision-making behind the line of scrimmage is decisive and has the speed to burst into the secondary.Wilson Jr.’s not only a runner out of the backfield, he’s also able to line up outside like a wide receiver and become a matchup nightmare against a linebacker. He’s able to easily get open on this play, allowing 49ers’ quarterback Nick Mullens to make a simple completion for a first down. After the injuries, Wilson Jr.’s the only running back that’ll be able to line up outside and spread the defense out.Now against the Colts, Wilson Jr. shows off his ability to switch into the next gear, gaining seven yards on this simple run play.This next play highlights Wilson Jr.’s ability to make a quick cut back and decisive move away from defenders and towards an open hole. It seems like the defender should make the tackle, yet Wilson Jr. is able to escape and turn it into a positive gain.This was probably the rookie’s worst run of the preseason, running straight ahead right into the defense for only a gain of two yards on the play. There wasn’t many rushes like this, but against starting defenses, I expect to see Wilson Jr. go through a learning curve and struggle for a bit.Injuries typically break the chemistry on a team, but in certain cases, it provides the opportunity for players to showcase their talent on the big stage. Hopefully, Wilson Jr. gets carries against the Packers on Monday Night Football to display his abilities — especially against a leaky Green Bay run defense.Previewing Justin Houston, Steven Nelson and the Chiefs’ underwhelming defense While I praised Andy Reid Youth Brock Coyle Jersey , Patrick Mahomes, and the Chiefs’ offense in my preview earlier this week, it’s time to pick apart the Kansas City defense. Bob Sutton’s crew is ranked 32nd in the NFL in yards allowed, 32nd in pass defense, 23rd in rushing defense, and Football Outsiders ranks them 32nd in efficiency. After playing Minnesota and Detroit’s stingy defense, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers’ offense should have a field day in Kansas City.A few seasons ago, the Chiefs were known as a defensive-minded team, with a complementary offense. Now, Kansas City features a potent offense, with a defense that just needs to buy a few stops every game. In order to get 49ers’ fans familiarized with this new-look Chiefs’ defense, here are some highlights (mostly lowlights, actually) of Sutton’s group.Thank god, there’s no more Marcus PetersAfter the Chiefs decided to part ways with their most talented defensive back during the offseason, there was clearly no plan to replace him. Kansas City’s defensive backfield isn’t nearly as impressive, especially with safety Eric Berry out with an injury. Against the Steelers Youth Arik Armstead Jersey , the Chiefs’ defense was on the field for 82 plays. Their defense gave up over 400 yards and nearly gave the game away with their poor play. In this play below, Steelers’ wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster runs a simple route and gets separation from Chiefs’ corner Kendall Fuller and gain 19 yards on a simple pitch and catch.After losing Peters, Fuller and newly-signed corner Orlando Scandrick were brought in to replace him. Per Pro Football Focus, Fuller is ranked 65th among corners, with a PFF grade of 60.7 after two weeks of play. Scandrick and Nelson haven’t been much better either.In this next clip, the Chiefs’ pathetic secondary is back on display. Steelers’ tight end Jesse James is able to sneak behind the linebackers and under the safety and get wide open near the end zone. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is able to buy some time and make the easy throw for a 26-yard touchdown.49ers’ tight end George Kittle has been one of San Francisco’s leading receivers this season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has done a solid job of creating route combinations that free up Kittle. I fully expect the 49ers’ tight ends to take advantage of the Chiefs’ leaky back end and make big plays on Sunday.Another play, another defensive breakdown for the Chiefs. Smith-Schuster gets wide open coming across the formation, as the Chiefs’ linebacker doesn’t pick him up. Roethlisberger makes the easy throw for a gain of 21 yards. A lot of the Steelers’ big plays from this past weekend were more a result of the miscues on defense.Chris Jones, Justin Houston and the Chiefs’ lack of a pass rushThe Chiefs’ defensive line has always been known to generate a strong pass rush, from the days of Tamba Hali to Dee Ford to Justin Houston. However, this season the Chiefs just haven’t been able to create any pressure on the opposing quarterback. Through two weeks of the regular season, the Chiefs’ pressure rate is 19.1 percent, which ranks 28th in the NFL.While the 49ers and Garoppolo have had some sack-related struggles, it seems like this is the week to start fixing that problem. The 49ers’ signal caller should have plenty of time on Sunday to make the proper reads and accurate throws from the pocket.The most effective player on the Chiefs’ defense is defensive tackle Chris Jones. The second-year player has really made a leap this season, ranking 12th in run defense and 20th in pass rush, among qualifying defensive linemen.On one of the first plays for the Steelers’ offense this past week Womens Jimmy Garoppolo Jersey , running back James Conner took the hand off from Roethlisberger and was stuffed immediately for a three-yard loss. Even though the Chiefs’ run defense is leaky, Jones is one of their best interior run stoppers. Here’s an example of that leaky run defense I just mentioned. Conner takes this first-and-10 hand off for nine yards, breaking a few tackles along the way. Not only did it seem like the Chiefs were taking bad angles on this play, they were making lazy attempts at tackles, which led to the large gain.Across the board, Sutton’s defensive crew seems to be lacking. The back end of the defense has had multiple breakdowns, leaving receivers wide open. Garoppolo and his receivers should be looking to take advantage of it on Sunday.The Chiefs’ pass rush hasn’t delivered either, only racking up two sacks all year. Jones, Ford and defensive lineman Allen Bailey will be stout in the run game, but as long as they don’t generate a rush on Sunday, the 49ers should be successful.I fully expect this to be an offensive shootout and the defense that’s able to find a few stops is likely going to push their team to victory. While the Chiefs’ offense is better than the 49ers’ offense, the 49ers’ defense is better than the Chiefs’. Will that be enough on Sunday to return with a victory?