49ers put running backs through tryouts, add a visit from Blake Watson

The San Francisco 49ers continued their offseason evaluation of the running back position by holding tryouts for Nyheim Miller-Hines and Zamir White and also bringing in Blake Watson for a visit, according to the NFL transaction wire and reported by Yahoo Sports on Monday.

For the 49ers, these looks fit the recurring preseason-season pattern of testing skill sets up close, especially at a spot that can be shaped quickly by injuries, performance changes, and role adjustments. Tryouts and visits are also a way for teams to compare players they may have scouted previously against the current needs of the roster.

The tryouts involved two different paths to an opportunity. Miller-Hines and White each received an on-site chance with the 49ers after being listed through the transaction process that teams use to communicate workout activity. While the public details do not specify the number of teammates involved, the format typically allows coaching staff to observe running style, pass protection willingness, and ability to process play calls quickly on a short timeline.

In addition to those workouts, the 49ers hosted Watson on a separate visit. Yahoo Sports’ report noted that Watson ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, a benchmark that is often used as shorthand for straight-line speed and early burst. Speed alone does not determine an NFL role, but it can influence whether a back gets opportunities in space, on outside runs, or as a change-of-pace option.

The combination of two tryouts and one visit also suggests the 49ers are keeping a wide net for running back depth rather than narrowing strictly to players already known for a single style. In practical terms, teams like San Francisco look for traits that fit their offense, including contact balance, route-level receiving comfort, and reliability in blocking assignments.

Because this is offseason workout activity, not a contract announcement tied to regular-season eligibility, the public record is limited. The transaction-wire process primarily communicates the opportunity to participate, not the outcome. That means the next step will be whether any of the evaluated backs progress through additional team interest, including practice availability and roster consideration during later phases of offseason work.