The San Francisco 49ers might be at the point where they have to cut ties with running back Jerick McKinnon.
The former Minnesota Vikings back suffered a torn ACL last summer and missed his entire first season with the 49ers.
It looked like McKinnon was going to be ready for training camp this year. Unfortunately, he suffered a setback earlier in the summer and has been sidelined since.
San Francisco did get McKinnon back at practice on Tuesday. That’s the good news. Sadly, said practice session did not go well and the ball carrier suffered yet another setback.
There’s no further information available from general manager John Lynch and Co. Though, this seems to suggest that a trip to the injured reserve could be in the cards for Mr. McKinnon about 18 months after he signed a four-year, $30 million deal with the 49ers.
San Francisco has two impressive running backs in Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida vying for touches. It also re-signed special teams ace Raheem Mostert, who has looked good on offense this preseason.
If the 49ers were to outright release McKinnon, they’d take on a massive dead cap hit. The likelier scenario is placing him on IR.
A third-round pick of the Vikings back in 2014, McKinnon recorded 2,902 total yards and 12 touchdown in four seasons with the team.