Running back Matt Breida on Sunday aggravated a left ankle sprain that has bothered him since Week 5, so the 49ers turned to undrafted rookie Jeff Wilson to carry the load.
Breida was limited to just 10 plays on offense in the 49ers' 43-16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He carried five times for just 6 yards.
Wilson sustained a left foot sprain in the second quarter and went to the locker room for further observation. He returned, and ended the day playing 55 of the 49ers’ 76 offensive snaps.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE “It’s the first time playing like that, so I’m pretty sure it’ll take a toll,” said Wilson, who was elevated from the practice squad before last week's game at Tampa Bay. “But I have a young body. I feel like I’ll be all right.”
[RELATED: 49ers report card vs Seahawks]
Wilson gained 61 yards on 15 rushing attempts. He also caught eight passes for 73 yards.
“Given the circumstances, he ran hard,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I know it was real unfortunate with that fumble, which I still disagree with. He had a pretty bad injury in the game, so he had to come in at halftime. But it was good to see him fight through it and come out there in the second half and help us out.
San Francisco 49ers
Find the latest San Francisco 49ers news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
Wilson’s fumble occurred early in the second quarter at the Seattle 3-yard line, as the 49ers were looking to cut into the Seahawks’ 13-0 lead. It appears as if Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner stripped Wilson of the ball after he was already on the ground.
“Ref called it a fumble, so I guess at the end of the day, it’s a fumble,” Wilson said. “It’s a bonehead play on me. I can’t let it happen. I can’t leave it in the ref’s hands. Just got to build and learn. To have that happen, it’s a dagger. And it’s going to hurt, but I have to learn from it and move forward.”
Referee Clete Blakeman reviewed the play, but did not overturn the original ruling of a fumble.
“I actually talked to the ref, too,” 49ers left tackle Joe Staley said. “He was like, ‘We have seven cameras and not one of them had an angle of it.’ So that’s why they called it. Because it was called on the field as a fumble, so they didn’t have any evidence to overturn it.”
Here are the total numbers of snaps of every 49ers player who saw action on offense, defense and special teams:
Offense
Total offensive snaps: 76
Quarterback – Nick Mullens 76
Running back – Jeff Wilson 55, Kyle Juszczyk 39, Matt Breida 10
Wide receiver – Dante Pettis 71, Kendrick Bourne 67, Richie James 30, Trent Taylor 23
Tight end – George Kittle 67, Garrett Celek 16, Ross Dwelley 2
Offensive line – Joe Staley 76, Laken Tomlinson 76, Weston Richburg 76 Mike Person 76, Mike McGlinchey 76
Defense
Total defensive snaps: 58
Defensive line – DeForest Buckner 49, Arik Armstead 36, Earl Mitchell 31, Solomon Thomas 29, Ronald Blair 28, Cassius Marsh 21, Dekoda Watson 4
Linebacker – Malcolm Smith 58, Fred Warner 57, Mark Nzeocha 19, Sheldon Day 18, Jullian Taylor 16, Elijah Lee 2
Defensive back –Marcell Harris 58, Ahkello Witherspoon 57, Richard Sherman 56, K’Waun Williams 39, Antone Exum 29, Jaquiski Tartt 29, Tarvarius Moore 2
Special teams
Total special teams plays: 30
Nzeocha 27, Greg Mabin 22, Exum 18, Marsh 17, James Onwualu 16, Harris 15, Matthew Daye 14, Celek 14, Witherspoon 13, Dwelley 12, Bradley Pinion 11, James 11, Buckner 10, Kyle Nelson 8, Mitchell 8, Wilson 7, Thomas 7, Godwin Igwebuike 6, Juszczyk 6, Tartt 4, Armstead 3, Robbie Gould 2, Garry Gilliam 2, Staley 2, McGlinchey 2, Tomlinson 2, Richburg 2, Warner 2, Blair 2, Taylor 1, Smith 1, Sherman 1, Williams 1