Kaelon Black gains opportunity with 49ers after injury to Jordan James

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Jul 30, 2026, 3:00 AM

Last updated Jul 30, 2026

Kaelon Black gains opportunity with 49ers after injury to Jordan James
Summary

San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black has a chance to step into a more significant role after teammate Jordan James suffered a rib fracture. The injury occurred during training camp, opening the door for Black to move up the depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey. Black has reportedly been impressive in non-padded practices, demonstrating decisiveness and burst, qualities noted by offensive tackle Colton McKivitz. The 49ers will begin padded practices on Friday, which will provide Black with an opportunity to further showcase his skills and potentially secure a backup spot as the regular season approaches.

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Status Watch
  • Jordan James is expected to miss time due to a rib injury.
  • Kaelon Black is currently the third running back on the depth chart.
  • Black stands out in non-padded practices with his decisiveness.
  • The 49ers will practice in pads starting Friday.
  • Black has a chance to secure a legitimate workload behind McCaffrey.
Latest Updates
  • 3:00 AMYahoo SportsControversial 49ers draft pick gets early opportunity to shine
What they're saying
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A much-maligned San Francisco 49ers draft pick has a real chance to grab hold of a key role in the 49ers' offense after an injury.

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