HOUSTON – Veteran running back Alfred Morris sees an opening with the 49ers and he is ready to hit the hole.
He has a history with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, who was his offensive coordinator in Washington for Morris’ first two NFL seasons. Those also happened to be his best two NFL seasons, rushing for 2,888 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Morris remained on the free-agent market for five months before agreeing this week to a veteran-minimum salary with the 49ers to be reunited with Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner.
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“I was just waiting for an opportunity,” Morris said after joining his new team in Houston for the first of two joint practices with the Texans.
“Kyle called and said there’s an opportunity. ‘We’ll give you an opportunity to play and showcase what you can do.’ And I was like, ‘OK, that’s all I can ask for.’ ”
The 49ers signed Morris after injuries to Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida. McKinnon (calf strain) and Breida (separated shoulder) will not take part in any contact practices or play in any of the 49ers’ remaining three exhibition games. Both players are expected to be ready for opening of the regular season on Sept. 9 against the Minnesota Vikings.
On the surface, it appears Morris, 29, still faces an uphill climb to win a spot on the 49ers’ 53-man roster to open the season. Raheem Mostert, one of the 49ers’ top special-teams players, Joe Williams, Jeremy McNichols and Jeff Wilson are also competing for jobs.
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In addition to vast NFL experience and knowledge of Shanahan’s scheme, Morris (5-foot-11, 222 pounds) offers a more physical style of running than the other backs in camp. In six NFL seasons with Washington and Dallas, Morris has averaged 4.4 yards while rushing for 5,503 yards and 32 touchdowns.
“I am a different type of runner, a different type of build than the rest of the guys (with the 49ers),” he said. “I think I will be a complement to whatever they want to do. I just have to make the most of my opportunity and I’m sure I can find a spot on the team and be able to be used however they want to use me.”
“It’s going to be a process, but after the first day, I think it went very well,” Morris said. “They gave me some opportunities to get in there and get my feet wet. That’s good, because I need to get my legs back under me. Only football gets you ready for football.”