SANTA CLARA — Alfred Morris is coming to join the 49ers’ injury-depleted running back corps with a legitimate shot at making the opening-day roster, coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday at training camp.
Morris first will have to pass a physical Tuesday in Houston, where the 49ers are embedding themselves the rest of this week for joint practices ahead of Saturday night’s exhibition.
“I told him I wouldn’t have waited him so long to invite him unless I believed he had a chance to make the team,” Shanahan said. “I do believe he has a chance to make the team here. That’s all Alf wants, a chance to compete. With some of these injuries, he does have a chance.”
The 49ers practiced without their top three running backs. Starter Jerick McKinnon strained his right calf Sunday and is out this week and likely all exhibition season; backup Matt Breida separated his right shoulder in Thursday’s exhibition; and, Joe Williams missed the past two practices to attend his brother-in-law’s funeral in New Jersey but will meet the 49ers in Houston.
Morris, 29, has spent this summer training in Florida, and his 5-foot-10, 220-pound frame will offer a “Thunder” approach to the lightning-quick capabilities of McKinnon and Breida, when healthy.
Morris rushed for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2012 as a rookie in Shanahan’s system at Washington, where he played four seasons before becoming mostly a Dallas Cowboys backup the past two seasons. Shanahan served as the offensive coordinator under his father, Mike, during Morris’ first two seasons before Washington made a coaching change.
“Alf did a great job for us for the two years I was with him,” Shanahan said. “It’s not flashy but he runs extremely hard. He’s very reliable. He’s a hard-nosed runner you can keep handing the ball.”
After that rookie season, Morris’ yards-per-carry average steadily dropped, from 4.8 to 4.6, 4.1, 3.7 and 3.5. But he reversed course last season, averaging 4.8 yards (115 carries, 547 yards) while starting five games in place of the suspended Ezekiel Elliott.
The 49ers’ need for a veteran back became more urgent Thursday when McKinnon left practice with what initially was thought a knee injury but was later diagnosed as a high, calf strain. McKinnon wore a compression sleeve on his right leg and walked gingerly on it at Monday’s session.
“Everyone gets a little worried when it’s by your knee. Yesterday he said it didn’t hurt that bad so he wasn’t that worried,” Shanahan said. “Once he got assurance it was his calf, it made sense he didn’t have that much pain.
“He felt much better today and he was frustrated he can’t get that work he and we all need until Week 1. But at least he feels good he’ll be ready for Week 1.”
After McKinnon went down, the 49ers have practiced with only running backs Raheem Mostert, Jeremy McNichols and Jeff Wilson. The Texas-based Morris did not previously work out for the 49ers when free agency began, as they instead focused on landing McKinnon and did so with a four-year, $30 million deal.
Other notes from the 49ers final training camp practice in Santa Clara:
— Cornerback Richard Sherman made a surprise return to team drills, although not on a full-time basis. The only time the ball came his way, he had tight coverage on Kendrick Bourne on a 10-yard Garoppolo pass that sailed out of bounds near the front, right pylon. “We’re trying to ease him in,” Shanahan said. “He wanted to get a few reps today in team and stuff where we kind of had an idea what plays they were and stuff.”
— Despite an injury report that includes over 12 starters or top subs, all 49ers are expected to accompany the team to Houston, because most of the training staff is going, too, Shanahan said.
Shanahan got a bit salty and sarcastic when it came to injury risks of the exhibition season: “(George) Kittle falling on his arm awkwardly and separating his shoulder, that could be prevented by not having him run the route. Guys getting concussions in games could be prevented from them not tackling people I guess,” Shanahan said. “Soft tissue injuries, yeah they can be prevented by having them not doing anything and sit there and just not get hurt and then it will happen in Week 1, to me. It’s just part of it.”
— Joshua Garnett had his most extensive action since a July 28 knee injury, and even though it was at third-string right guard, the 49ers had starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey repeatedly line up next to Garnett. With Mike Person getting the day off to rest, the 49ers employed Erik Magnuson and Jonathan Cooper on the first- and second-strings.
— Offensive play of the day: Garoppolo avoided DeForest Buckner’s rush and completed a shovel pass to McNichols for a touchdown in a red-zone drill.
— Nick Mullens ended practice with a 40-yard bomb into Aaron Burbridge down the sideline. Mullens earlier had a pass into the end zone intercepted easily by linebacker Korey Toomer.
— As Jimmy Garoppolo’s pass sailed through the air down field, players hollered “Celek Time” before Garrett Celek indeed came through with a reception against Cassius Marsh’s coverage.
— Reserve defensive tackles D.J. Jones and Sheldon Day made solid plays, as they’ve done consistently in camp.
— Defensive end Jullian Taylor (illness) was a late scratch from practice.
