49ers RB Kaelon Black Expected to Play Through Groin Injury Against Dolphins
San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black is expected to play against the Miami Dolphins despite a groin injury, adding uncertainty to the team's backfield rotation.
HotTakes Editorial Team1 min read
Finding live odds…

Adam Schefter just dropped the Sunday morning update that every fantasy manager was dreading and hoping for all at once. San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black is expected to play against the Miami Dolphins despite carrying a questionable tag for a groin injury.
Pushing through a soft-tissue injury that magically appeared on a Thursday practice report is a bold move. It is the exact kind of chaotic decision that makes you wonder if the medical staff is using actual science or just asking a guy to jog in a straight line and giving a thumbs up.
"Adam Schefter reported that Black is expected to play, per source."
Black only got this massive opportunity because Jordan James fractured a rib back in July training camp. Now the rookie out of Indiana is trying to hold onto his spot in the rotation while dealing with a Grade 1 groin pull.
The 49ers are walking into their home opener at Levi's Stadium after a weird Week 1 victory all the way out in Australia. Meanwhile, the Dolphins are flying cross-country trying to wash off the stench of a brutal 27-13 opening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Having Black active is great for the depth chart, but anyone looking at his rushing props or plugging him into a flex spot needs to read the room. A running back with a compromised groin is basically a ticking time bomb for a sudden reduction in snap counts.
San Francisco is already down wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, who just had ankle surgery and is out for the next ten weeks. They cannot afford to have another young playmaker turn a minor tweak into a multi-month vacation.
We will find out exactly how much burst Black actually has when the ball is kicked off on Sunday afternoon. If he looks sluggish or heads to the blue medical tent early, the San Francisco backfield is going to turn into an absolute scramble drill.
Key stats
The Miami Dolphins lost their Week 1 matchup to the Las Vegas Raiders 27-13.
49ers WR De'Zhaun Stribling is out for 10 weeks following ankle surgery.
What's next
Black's workload and effectiveness will be tested immediately on Sunday afternoon, and any aggravation could force the 49ers to scramble for backfield depth.

Key stats



