49ers find balance in the run game with Christian McCaffrey, Kaelon Black

During a Thursday clash against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, the San Francisco 49ers unleashed a rejuvenated ground attack to secure a 27-7 victory. Sparked by consecutive bursts of nine and five yards from rookie running back Kaelon Black midway through an 86-yard scoring march, center Jake Brendel urged head coach Kyle Shanahan from the field to stick with the rushing plan.

Shanahan complied, steering San Francisco to 30 carries totaling 5.8 yards per attempt, which represented the club's second-highest mark relative to their 2025 campaign, trailing solely a 5.9-yard output versus Chicago in Week 17.

The contest featured a balanced backfield workload that had eluded the franchise since acquiring Christian McCaffrey in October 2022. While McCaffrey contended with cramps, Black recorded 14 rushes and one catch for 70 total yards, becoming the first teammate to out-carry a starting, fully participating McCaffrey since the 2022 divisional round against Dallas.

McCaffrey added 88 yards across 10 carries and four receptions, giving both rushers an even 15 touches. The performance provided a promising shift for a 24-year-old third-round selection who battled an adductor injury in training camp, while offering relief to an offense that ranked near the bottom of the league in 2025 with 3.8 yards per carry, 106.9 ground yards per contest, and 2.04 yards prior to contact.

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