SANTA CLARA — 49ers running back Raheem Mostert’s stock was on the rise when his season was cut short after sustaining a fractured forearm in Week 9 against the Raiders.
But his future with the team is uncertain for 2019.
Mostert was in the 49ers locker room this week as he has been since going on injured reserve. He had surgery to insert two metal plates and 13 screws in his right forearm, and he joked he made it through airport screening during the holidays. Mostert no longer wears a sling or a brace.
With the health of Matt Breida being inconsistent all season long, Mostert was getting a long look at running back. He was just starting to hit his stride prior to getting injured.
In nine games, he had 34 carries for 261 yards and a touchdown, for a remarkable 7.7 yards-per-carry average. He is also known as a special teams ace, making key tackles as the gunner on both punt and kick returns.
Mostert is scheduled to be a restricted free agent this offseason, and he knows his future is up in the air.
“Honestly, we’ll see,” Mostert said. “It’s too early to tell, but I think I made a good impression for it being my last impression for the season. We’ll see how all plays out.”
Mostert said he has gotten positive feedback from both coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
“Kyle came up to me multiple times,” Mostert said. “Him and John, both excited. ‘Hey, you left on a high note. We’ll see where it takes us.’ So we’ll see.”
Shanahan is talking as if he expects Mostert to be part of the mix next season. The 49ers appear certain to at least give him a one-year qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. Mostert proved himself to Shanahan on offense after initially earning his spot with the 49ers on special teams.
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SIGN UP HERE "I’m excited about Raheem Mostert," Shanahan said on "49ers Game Plan," which airs Saturday at 7 p.m. on NBC Bay Area.
"He started out this year as just a special-teams player, and he ended this year as a running back who can also be good at special teams."
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But there figures to be even more competition for running back jobs next season, with presumptive starter Jerick McKinnon returning from a torn ACL that ended his season before it ever began.
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Mostert has been impressed by undrafted rookie Jeff Wilson Jr., who will make his second start of the season on Sunday in the finale against the Rams. Mostert was pleasantly surprised at how physical Wilson has shown he can be.
“He’s growing,” Mostert said about his teammate. “He’s getting a lot better and he’s physical. I didn’t really realize how physical of a back he was until he ran over (Chicago linebacker) Roquan Smith last week. Roquan is known to be a hitter. For him to run somebody like that over, it shows how tough he is.
“I was surprised. I was shocked. I had some idea, but I was ‘OK, he’s bringing it now.’ That wasn’t the only time. He did it when we played the Seahawks in their place. So he’s doing a great job so far.”
Mostert said he offered the rookie some advice on taking care of the football. Wilson fumbled in three of the first four games in which he appeared.
“One thing I told him after that, 'Move on to the next play. It happens to everybody,'" Mostert said. "I went into the Arizona game, my first handoff was a fumble.
"I came back in that game and was like, you know, 'I’m going to do better.' That’s the same mentality you have to have. I just try to relate to him and it actually helped. He appreciated it, too.”
With Mostert and Wilson showing promise along established players McKinnon and Breida, the 49ers running back group looks to be a strength in 2019.