Minor setback keeping Jerick McKinnon out of 49ers camp

The former Minnesota Vikings running back still hasn’t been taken off the PUP list to participate in training camp with the San Francisco 49ers.

This time last year, former Minnesota Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon was preparing for his first season in the NFL outside of the Twin Cities.

After four years with the Vikings, McKinnon signed a $30 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers during the 2018 offseason. He was expected to open last season as the 49ers’ top running back, but a torn ACL right before the team’s first game prevented him from taking a single snap in 2018.

Considering when he hurt his knee last year, most assumed that McKinnon would be ready to participate in San Francisco’s training camp this summer. However, the former Minnesota running back is still on the 49ers’ physically unable to perform list and he’s not expected to be cleared to practice until some time next week.

McKinnon might have been already been back out on the practice field too if not for suffering a minor setback with his knee right before the start of San Francisco’s training camp.

The 49ers don’t seem to be too concerned about the 27-year-old running back needing more time to recover. But if McKinnon doesn’t start practicing soon, his spot on San Francisco’s 2019 roster could end up being in jeopardy.

The 49ers currently have the cap space to release the running back this year, so this outcome certainly isn’t out of the question. Especially since San Francisco signed former Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Colemen during free agency this past offseason.

Will McKinnon ever get to take a regular season snap for the 49ers? Or is San Francisco already preparing for his departure?