Why Kyle Shanahan Doesn't Seem to Trust Jordan Mason

If Kyle Shanahan trusted Jordan Mason, Christian McCaffrey might not have an injured oblique/rib right now.

The 49ers gave McCaffrey a whopping 133 touches through the first six weeks of the season -- a gigantic workload for a smaller running back. Meanwhile, they've given Mason merely 22 touches even though he's averaging 5.6 yards per carry. They've also given 21 touches to Elijah Mitchell, who's averaging just 2.7 yards per carry.

Given Mason's production, you'd expect him to get more action. But at the end of the 49ers' loss to the Browns, rather than give Mason one more carry to make the field goal shorter for Jake Moody, Kyle Shanahan ran the clock down and didn't run another offensive play. Fishy.

On Monday, a reporter asked Shanahan if Mason will be the starting running back if McCaffrey misses games.

“Yeah, we'll see," Shanahan said. "Elijah's [Mitchell] earned a ton with us over these years. I think Elijah, when he has been healthy, has been as good of a back as there is. He's just had a hard time staying healthy, but I also can't take away anything from Mason. I mean every time he's got his opportunities, you guys see how he's done. So both of those guys have done very well. Elijah came back and practiced late last week on Thursday. So he got really one true day of practice in and that's why Jordan got the first nod once Christian came out. But we’ve got two really good players there. I know TY Davis[-Price] is waiting for his opportunity also. So hopefully Christian will be good to go this week, but if not, we’ve got a group of backs that we can rely on.”

Notice Shanahan answered a question about Mason by talking about Mitchell first. Shanahan loves Mitchell and trusts him because he never has fumbled in his career. As opposed to Mason, who fumbled in training camp and during the season. Shanahan hasn't forgotten.

The problem is Mitchell almost never is healthy, and seems to be a shell of what he once was. That means Mason needs to start if McCaffrey can't play. Shanahan is being too cautious.