The attrition to the San Francisco 49ers running backs corps this season has been staggering.
Three different one-time starters are on the season-ending Injured Reserve List: Pierre Garçon, Reggie Bush and Shaun Draughn, who became the latest casualty on Wednesday.
But the team might finally be getting some good news at the position. After missing the last two months with a hand injury, rookie running back Mike Davis is eligible to play in this Sunday's season-finale versus the St. Louis Rams.
And judging from Jim Tomsula's comments on Wednesday, it appears as if there's a decent chance Davis will actually suit up.
When asked if the expectation is for Davis to be available, Tomsula said, "I'd like him to be. We'll find out exactly where we're at, but yeah, I'd like him to be."
The 49ers placed Davis on the Reserve/Designated to Return List on Nov. 7, six days after he suffered a broken hand in the team's Week 8 loss in St. Louis. The rookie fourth-rounder told reporters that he sustained the injury on a late hit out of bounds, one that drew a personal foul penalty on Akeem Ayers. Davis' recovery required a plate and four screws to be inserted.
Tomsula indicated that the team expects to ramp up Davis' workload in practice this week. Jarryd Hayne, DuJuan Harris and Kendall Gaskins are the three running backs that handled the ground game a week ago versus the Detroit Lions. The 49ers would need to make room on the 53-man roster before Sunday's game if Davis is to play.
"I test my hand strength with the trainers. So whenever they tell me it's a go, I'll be ready," Davis said. "My mindset is to go through everything like I'm going to play, but everything is in the trainers' hands."
In five games this season, Davis has carried the ball 25 times for 24 yards. He has also caught five passes for 23 yards.
"It'll be real weird just to come back for the last game, but any time I can battle with my team, I don't care if it's the last game or not," Davis said. "I'll be ready to have fun with it."
