Will Isaac Guerendo play for the 49ers against the Dolphins in Week 16? NFL injury update

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and they’ll do so without running back Isaac Guerendo, unless he can make a miraculous recovery from a hamstring injury.

Guerendo picked up the injury against the Los Angeles Rams last weekend and did not participate in team practice on Wednesday or Thursday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that Guerendo is unlikely to feature against the Dolphins.

Even before this latest setback the 49ers were shorthanded at the running back position. Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason both sustained season-ending injuries, giving Guerendo the chance to play. Fellow RB Elijah Mitchell has also been ruled out for the entire season after picking up a serious hamstring injury back in August.

Who could replace Isaac Guerendo for the 49ers?

Guerendo has put in some impressive performances in his rookie season, notably helping his team to an important victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 14. He had 15 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns, plus two catches for 50 yards. In fact, he became the first player this season to have a rushing touchdown and 50 receiving yards in the first quarter of a game.

With Guerendo added to the injury list for Sunday, Patrick Taylor Jr. is expected to get greater opportunities in Miami. Taylor will likely take most of Guerendo’s minutes but Israel Abanikanda could also feature. Finally, the 49ers have Ke’Shawn Vaughn on the practice squad and he has received callups in the recent games when Abanikanda was inactive. Whoever it is, the 49ers will be down to their fifth-choice running back.

Despite managing a paltry 6-8 record across the first 14 games the Niners can still qualify for the postseason. However they have no room for error down the stretch. Last year’s Super Bowl runners-up need to win each of their three remaining regular season fixtures, and hope results elsewhere go their way, to make it to the playoffs.

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