The San Francisco 49ers shored up their suddenly thin running back corps on Tuesday by claiming former Pitt star Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets.
In a corresponding move, the Niners placed Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve after he suffered a right knee injury in Sunday night’s 35-10 loss to the Bills. Coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday said backup running back Jordan Mason would “most likely” join McCaffrey on IR, but the 49ers did not place him on that list just yet after he sprained his ankle Sunday.
Abanikanda, 22, is in his second year as a pro after the Jets picked him in the fifth round of the 2023 draft out of Pitt. He was waived Monday to make room for Kene Nwangwu, who had a 99-yard kick return touchdown and forced a fumble as a practice-squad elevation in New York’s loss Sunday to the Seahawks.
Abanikanda has been inactive for all 12 of the Jets’ games this season. Last year, he had 22 carries for 70 yards in six games, adding seven catches for 43 yards.
