With Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason both heading to injured reserve, the San Francisco 49ers needed to add at least one running back to their 53-man roster to back up rookie Isaac Guerendo.

They have now done so, claiming Israel Abanikanda as McCaffrey's return to IR was made official. 

Abanikanda joins the 49ers having been waived by the New York Jets.

A fifth-round pick of the Jets last year, the 49ers met with Abanikanda at the 2023 combine.

Abanikanda obviously made enough of a positive impression back then to merit the 49ers giving him a shot, which they have done despite the former Pitt Panther rushing for only 70 yards on 22 carries last season.

He certainly has the athletic traits for the 49ers' offense, having posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.63 out of 10 in his pre-draft workout. Abanikanda ran a 40-yard ash of 4.45 seconds.

That is still down on the performance of Guerendo, who blitzed this year's Combine with a time of 4.3 in the 40, but with that pairing the 49ers now have two very explosive backs as they look to keep a beat up roster in the playoff mix down the stretch.

San Francisco also has Patrick Taylor Jr. on the practice squad, and he may soon take Mason's place on the 53-man roster.

In addition to claiming Abanikanda, the 49ers signed wide receiver Ronnie Bell to the practice squad, having waived their 2023 seventh-round pick last week.

Jordan Mason denied chance to join 49ers Hall of Famer in select club as injuries gift rookie huge opportunity

He deserved the chance to make history.