Since Isaac Guerendo transitioned from playing receiver in high school to running back in college, he hasn’t had many chances to show what he can do as a running back. However, with Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason injured, Guerendo is now set to become the main running back for the San Francisco 49ers for the foreseeable future.
Guerendo is expected to make his second start, both in college and the pros, on Sunday when the 49ers (5-7) host the Chicago Bears (4-8).
“I’m excited,” Guerendo said Wednesday. “But really it’s whatever it takes to win. Whatever the plan looks like is what we’ll bring.”
It looks like Guerendo will get a heavy workload, as the only other running backs on the roster are Patrick Taylor, who has 72 career carries over four seasons in the NFL, and Israel Abanikanda, who was claimed off waivers from the Jets this week.
Coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned that Guerendo’s progress since training camp has made him ready for this new role, adding that Guerendo is now running with more “urgency.”
“I think it takes guys some time,” Shanahan said. “You start to get a feel for it the more, if you’ve got the right stuff, the more you get reps, the more you can adjust to it.
How hard you’ve got to hit stuff, how quick those holes close, how when there is a hole how you have to hit it full-speed and can’t hesitate at all or it closes like that. We’ve seen that stuff get better in practice and we’ve seen it carry over into games.”
In earlier games, Guerendo had 10 carries for 99 yards in a Week 6 win at Seattle, 14 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown against Dallas two weeks later, after Mason left early due to a shoulder injury. Guerendo also scored San Francisco’s only touchdown in their recent game at Buffalo.
This season, Guerendo has 42 carries for 246 yards and two touchdowns, and he says he’s ready for an even bigger role thanks to the preparation he’s had working with position coach Bobby Turner.
“I always give credit to Coach T just preparing everybody like they’re going to be the starter, so that when moments like that do come up, you’re ready for it,” he said.
Before becoming a running back in college at Wisconsin, Guerendo played receiver in high school. At Wisconsin, he spent most of his time as a backup behind Jonathan Taylor and Braelon Allen before transferring to Louisville for the 2023 season.
At Louisville, he shared the workload with Jawhar Jordan, rushing for 132 carries and 810 yards. Guerendo didn’t get to start until the Holiday Bowl, where he ran for 161 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries against Southern California.
His performance in that game, along with his breakaway speed, helped him get selected by San Francisco in the fourth round of the draft in April.
Guerendo mentioned that he has learned a lot from being around McCaffrey, who has faced a difficult season. The 2023 Offensive Player of the Year missed the first eight games with Achilles tendinitis, and then he injured his PCL last week against Buffalo. McCaffrey will be out for the rest of the regular season.
“This wasn’t my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours,” McCaffrey wrote on Instagram Wednesday. “You can feel sorry for yourself and listen to the birds, or you can hold the line. I’m grateful for the support of everyone in my corner and promise I’ll work smarter and harder to come back better from this.”
