SANTA CLARA – With their top two running backs sidelined for the remainder of the preseason, the 49ers plan to sign veteran running back Alfred Morris, coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday.
Morris, 29, a six-year NFL veteran, will join the 49ers in Houston in advance of the team’s two practices against the Texans and Saturday’s exhibition game. Morris must pass a physical for the signing to become official.
Morris played two seasons with Washington with coach Kyle Shanahan as his offensive coordinator. He rushed for a career-high 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rookie and 1,275 yards in his second season with Shanahan.
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“Alfred did a great job with us for the two years I was with him,” Shanahan said. “It’s not flashy, but he runs extremely hard. He’s very reliable. You block it for zero (yards) , and he can usually get at least 1. He’s a hard-nosed runner who you can keep handing the ball off to.”
The 49ers will not have the services of starting running back Jerick McKinnon (calf strain) or Matt Breida (separated shoulder) for the final three games of the exhibition season. Joe Williams, who missed two practices while attending the funeral of a family member, will rejoin the 49ers on Tuesday in Houston.
Morris appeared in 14 games with the Dallas Cowboys last season. He rushed for 547 yards and one touchdown on 115 carries. Shanahan said Morris will have a legitimate chance to make the 49ers’ 53-man roster.
“I told him I waited so long to invite him because I wouldn’t 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. And that’s all Alfred wanted -- a chance to compete.
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“I think with some of these injuries we’ve had, now he does have a chance to compete. He’s getting in late, but we’ll see how he does over these next few weeks. If he’s running the same way he always has, he’ll have a chance.”
In 92 career games, 62 starts, Morris has gained 5,503 yards and 32 touchdowns on 1,262 rushing attempts for a 4.4-yard average.