San Francisco 49ers RB Jerick McKinnon tears ACL, out for year

McKinnon fell awkwardly after making a cut on the final play of practice and reportedly is expected to miss the entire 2018 season.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in practice, the team confirmed Saturday.

McKinnon fell awkwardly after making a cut on the final play of practice and reportedly is expected to miss the entire 2018 season.

"Yeah, I mean anytime I watch someone feel their knee, there's always that concern," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said before the diagnosis, hopeful of better-than-expected news. "But I have felt that way before and it hasn't been (an ACL), so I'm not trying to (make this) the darkest moment in the world right now. We hope that we're wrong."

McKinnon was just getting back into the mix after suffering a strained calf on Aug. 12. He was expected to start the Sept. 9 opener against the Minnesota Vikings, his former club.

McKinnon played four seasons with the Vikings before signing a four-year, $30 million deal with the 49ers in the offseason. He rushed for a career-best 570 yards last season.

San Francisco released three running backs earlier Saturday before the injury -- Joe Williams, Jeremy McNichols and Jeff Wilson Jr.

The 49ers currently have running backs Matt Breida, Alfred Morris and Raheem Mostert on the roster in addition to McKinnon.

Breida has missed the past three preseason games due to a shoulder injury, but Shanahan said he will be available for the season opener.

San Francisco also released guard Jonathan Cooper and defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu on Saturday. Cooper received a one-year, $4.95 million deal in the offseason as a free agent, while Attaochu signed a one-year, $3 million pact.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)