The 49ers went into this season hoping Carlos Hyde would emerge as an elite NFL running back and make fans forget that veteran Frank Gore was allowed to leave.
In Game 1, that certainly happened, with the second-year running back Hyde exploding for 168 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over the Vikings.
But that was the season highlight, not a preview of things to come.
After Game 1, Hyde played just six more games and was shut down after a foot injury suffered during a game against the Giants – when he rushed for 93 yards – proved too much to overcome.
The loss of the explosive Hyde – plus an early season-ending injury to Reggie Bush and the hand injury to rookie Mike Davis – left the 49ers with a depleted running attack and a carousel of fill-ins and castoffs that handcuffed the offense.
Now, as the 4-10 49ers prepare to host the 7-8 Rams Sunday at Levi’s Stadium (1:25 p.m. kickoff) in the season finale, San Francisco – which had hoped to build around its running game in 2015 – ranks just 21st in the NFL in running the football.
One positive that could come out of Sunday’s game, however, would be the return of Davis, the draft pick from South Carolina.
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With Shaun Draughn now sidelined, Davis is eligible to come off short-term injured reserve, and could see some action along with Kendall Gaskins, DuJuan Harris and Jarryd Hayne. If he’s activated, Davis could get some action and build some momentum going toward 2016. In his rookie year he’s seen limited duty, rushing for just 24 yards on 25 carries. But in college, he was a hard-running, solid-blocking versatile runner and pass catcher. The 49ers believe he can be a great complement to Hyde next season, and Sunday could be his next step toward that.
“It’s been frustrating not being out there and helping my team,” Davis told Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com this week. “It’s been real hard.”
Head coach Jim Tomsula told the media that Davis looks fit, saying, "Mike has been running around here pretty good."
The Rams beat the 49ers in their earlier meeting this season, 27-6 on Nov. 1. Another loss Sunday would drop the Niners to 4-12, which would be their worst record since 2005.
One advantage the 49ers should have Sunday is that they play much better at home, especially on defense. On the road, the 49ers have given up an average of 31.5 points per game. At Levi’s Stadium, they’ve only allowed 17 points per game, the third-best average in the NFL.
Oddsmakers have made the Rams 3½-point favorites.
