49ers Add Israel Abanikanda After Injuries Decimate Running Back Depth

San Francisco claims the former Jets running back as Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason are placed on injured reserve.

The San Francisco 49ers claimed 22-year-old running back Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets on Tuesday.
Christian McCaffrey, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, was placed on injured reserve with a PCL sprain, sidelining him for at least six weeks and likely the rest of the regular season.
Backup running back Jordan Mason also suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills and is expected to be placed on injured reserve as well.
Abanikanda, a fifth-round pick in 2023, had limited NFL experience with 70 rushing yards and 43 receiving yards in six games last season but was inactive for all 12 Jets games this year.
The 49ers, now 5-7 with slim playoff hopes, face the Chicago Bears this Sunday with rookie Isaac Guerendo as the only other healthy running back on their active roster.