The 49ers will not have to face Saquon Barkley in their home opener against the Giants, meaning they will instead be tasked with stopping a backup running back with plenty of motivation to shine on Thursday Night Football.

Barkley is considered week to week after suffering an ankle injury. He will not feature in the primetime game at Levi's Stadium.

His absence gives Matt Breida, who signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2017, the chance to start against his former team.

Breida proved a hidden gem for the 49ers, making a huge impression over his first two seasons with his explosiveness. He led the 49ers in rushing in 2018 with 814 yards and three touchdowns.

In 2019, he was part of the 49ers team that made Super Bowl LIV but was not active as San Francisco lost to the Chiefs.

He moved on to the Dolphins in 2020, featuring in a Week 5 Miami win over the 49ers at an empty Levi's Stadium in the Covid season. Breida then had a year with the Bills before signing with the Giants.

Breida appears unlikely to find much success in his first game back in the Bay Area with fans in the stands against the 49ers' vaunted defense.

However, there are several players on the 49er defense who know all too well about Breida's home-run hitting ability, and they will certainly won't be taking their former teammate lightly as he targets what could be a potentially epic revenge game.

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They’ve stolen yet another player.

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