Former 49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr. saw his role diminish after the team added Christian McCaffrey ahead of the trade deadline.
Kyle Shanahan has shared about Jeff Wilson Jr.
Former 49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr. saw his role diminish after the team added Christian McCaffrey ahead of the trade deadline.
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Wilson then requested a trade from the only team he’d played for since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
The 49ers traded him to the Dolphins for a fifth-round pick, but it wasn’t a decision the team wanted to make.
Wilson maintained his strong 2022 output in his Week 9 debut with the Dolphins. He gained 51 yards on nine carries and caught three passes for 21 yards and a touchdown.
When speaking with reporters on Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan reiterated this.
“It was extremely hard,” Shanahan said. “That was one that I was not happy about, excited about, but something I truly understand that I think was the best for the team. We got a lot of running backs here who can do some stuff. Jeff has been exactly what I want for a Niner. And he’s helped us in every situation possible.”
Wilson was excellent for San Francisco this season, spending the majority of the season as the starter after Elijah Mitchell suffered a knee injury in the season opener.
“I told Jeff make sure that he doesn’t play against us,” Shanahan said. “He smiled. I don’t think he’ll stick with that. He can miss one game though.”
“I’ve seen (former 49ers RB) Raheem (Mostert) throughout the year. I’ve watched those guys a lot and then watching Sunday on the Red Zone network, I was happy for Jeff.”
“I don’t like seeing him making plays in another uniform that’s not a Niner. So you kind of take that a little personal, but then you think of Jeff and Jeff always wanted to be here, but he also knew this opportunity was best for him and his family. And Jeff was going to be a free agent at the end of this year and he’s got a chance to go somewhere that really needs him.”
“A chance to basically be used as a starter, him and Raheem. And something that if he keeps doing what he did for us, him and his family are going to be in a much better situation at the end of this year, so it was really cool to watch him do for them, what he has done for us.”
