The Indiana Hoosiers set a program record by having 8 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Among them was RB Kaelon Black, who was taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round with the 90th overall pick.
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Last year during Indiana's National Championship season, Black played a key role in the Hoosier backfield. Along with Roman Hemby, Indiana possessed arguably the best 1-2 RB punch in the country. Both Black and Hemby eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground, while Black led the Hoosiers with 10 rushing touchdowns to go along with a solid 5.6 yards per carry average.
Now playing in San Francisco, Black is looking to make his mark in his first NFL training camp. So far, he appears to be doing just that.
Kaelon Black taking first-team reps with Christian McCaffrey sidelined
There's no denying that San Francisco's clear-cut No. 1 running back is Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey is a 4x Pro Bowler and was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. He is without a doubt one of the most electric playmakers in the NFL.
Unfortunately, McCaffrey has battled significant injuries throughout the past several seasons. That is the case right now, as he is currently dealing with physical "tightness," and has missed a handful of practices at 49ers training camp. That has opened the door for Black to step up.
On Wednesday, NBC Sports reported that Black is seeing first-team reps in the San Francisco backfield with McCaffrey sidelined. Black himself had missed two weeks with a thigh injury earlier in training camp, but now appears to be back at full health while taking on a bigger responsibility.
Kaelon Black needs to be ready when his name is called
With McCaffrey out, could Black be in line to be San Francisco's Week 1 starting RB? Well, it may be a bit early for that.
An official timeline for McCaffrey to return to the field hasn't been announced. However, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan stated that the injury "isn't serious" and that the superstar RB is being held out of practice for precautionary reasons. At this time, it seems that the 49ers are resting McCaffrey in hopes of having him ready to roll for the season opener on Thursday, September 10 against the Rams in Australia.
Still, it's imperative that Black continues to impress and stays ready for when his name is called. McCaffrey has been extremely injury-prone since the 2020 season, and has missed significant time across multiple campaigns. The 49ers as a team are battling a laundry list of injuries already, so if Black can prove himself as a reliable threat in the backfield, he could find his way into a bigger role sooner rather than later. Don't be surprised if the former Hoosier makes a name for himself early on this season. He could even be a dark-horse fantasy football option serving as McCaffrey's backup.
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