49ers host workouts for three running backs, including former Bears starter Khalil Herbert

The San Francisco 49ers hosted three running backs for a workout on Thursday as they look for additional depth at the position. The team’s interest comes in the wake of an injury to Jordan James, leaving the organization to evaluate who can help stabilize the running-back group during the offseason transition period.

According to the announcement publicized through Yahoo Sports, the 49ers workout group included Raheem Blackshear, Khalil Herbert, and Owen Wright. The session reflects a common NFL roster-building approach in August prep, where teams use small, targeted looks to sort out fit, readiness, and versatility before final roster commitments.

Herbert’s inclusion stands out because he has been a starter at running back for the Chicago Bears in the past. That experience matters for a team trying to balance between developing depth and keeping reliable options available for early-season workloads, especially in an offense that requires backs to contribute in pass protection and route-based assignments as well as between-the-tackles runs.

Blackshear and Wright add a second layer to the evaluation. Both players are viewed through the lens of what they can offer in specific roles, whether that is tempo runs, third-down touches, or situational usage that allows a team to keep its primary contributors fresh. Even when a workout does not translate directly into a roster spot, it can tighten the organization’s understanding of how certain skill sets translate to the scheme and practice pace.

The timing is also significant. A workout on the eve of camp provides coaches an additional data point on fundamentals such as ball security, acceleration out of cuts, and the ability to read blocks quickly. It also gives the staff a chance to measure how quickly a player processes instructions, an aspect that becomes more valuable once pads and live periods compress the decision-making window.

For the 49ers, the next step is straightforward but not always quick. A group workout can lead to nothing, or it can lead to a contract, a tryout extension, or repeated reps later in the process. The team’s willingness to look beyond one name indicates that San Francisco wants more than a single answer at the position, particularly after James’ injury created a need for clearer depth planning.

What to watch next is whether the 49ers expand their search beyond Thursday’s three backs, and whether any of the participants separates themselves in follow-up evaluation. If the team signs a running back in the near term, the workout serves as a window into the type of player the staff prioritized, including experience level, immediate role potential, and how well a back can handle multiple responsibilities in an NFL offense. For now, the 49ers’ move should be viewed as roster management in progress rather than a final declaration of the depth chart.