SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ It's the cruelest yet well-traveled intersection inside NFL locker rooms: a star player gets hurt, then his replacements offer respectful condolences as they charge ahead at increased roles.
Labor Day at the 49ers complex saw running back Jerick McKinnon admirably cope with Saturday's season-ending, anterior-cruciate-ligament tear to his right knee. More on that exemplary display of courage later in this story.
The most pressing matter, in the NFL's production-based world, is determining his successor.
Not long after McKinnon bravely spoke in positive tones on crutches at his locker, Matt Breida and Alfred Morris took turns answering reporters' questions and complimenting each other, and they did so on opposite sides of the locker room.
None revealed which one _ if only one _ will replace McKinnon as the 49ers starting running back, nor is it their place to upstage coach Kyle Shanahan's eventual announcement.
A two-back approach is likely in Sunday's season opener at Minnesota. But if one guy is relied on most, and with all due respect to Breida's speed and exemplary work ethic, the most logical call is Morris, based on his experience.
Morris, despite being signed only three weeks ago, has proven he can carry the load with veteran savvy. His two best seasons were his first two in Shanahan's scheme at Washington, rushing for 1,613 yards in 2012 and 1,275 in '13.
"I'm still in that stage of still learning and getting that confidence, but I'm definitely at a place I can carry a heavy load," Morris, 29, said.
Morris has started 69 of 92 career games, and he averaged 4.8 yards per carry in five starts last season as the Dallas Cowboys' fill-in starter for Ezekiel Elliott. Morris has 1,262 carries for 5,503 yards and 32 touchdowns in his career, the first four seasons of which came in Washington.
By contrast, the speedy Breida, 23, has one year of NFL tape, having totaled 465 yards and two touchdowns on 105 carries last season backing up Carlos Hyde. Breida had 21 receptions and drew concern with five drops, something he's worked diligently on improving and definitely must show in place of McKinnon.
Morris on Breida: "He's definitely a change-of-pace guy _ I mean, people say that _ but I think he can carry the load if he had to. It'd be a different role for him, but I think mentally he has the capacity to do that.
"We'll see how they use us. I don't know if it'll be a 1-2 thing or kind of spell each other," Morris added. "I don't know what they'll do. We'll find out this week."
Breida echoed that depth-chart naivete. But he's ready to go after not playing in any exhibition after an Aug. 9 shoulder separation against the Cowboys _ "a freak accident" in pass protection, he said.
The best bet is the 49ers turn to Breida when in need of quick, explosive plays, especially in the passing game, for which was the plan he's long anticipated.
"I felt they were going to use me in the offense a lot more anyway," Breida said. "Jet's going to help me a lot. Alfred, who's been in the offense, is going to help me. Me and Al and Raheem (Morris), we're all going to get the job done."
McKinnon's scouting report on Morris and Breida: "They work really well together. They're two different backs and they both have a lot of upside. Coach Shanahan and the other coaches do a great job putting us in position to be successful. That's going to continue to happen."
