49ers running back Jordan James was competing with Kaelon Black â?? a third-round pick this spring â?? for the primary backup job behind Christian McCaffrey until his injury on Monday.
James' rib fracture has the 49ers looking at free agent running backs.
The 49ers worked out Raheem Blackshear, Khalil Herbert and Owen Wright on Thursday, according to the NFL's personnel notice.
Blackshear entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Bills in 2022. He has played 41 games for the Panthers, rushing for 203 yards and three touchdowns and catching 16 passes for 138 yards.
Herbert was a sixth-round pick of the Bears in 2021. He has appeared in 63 games, with 13 starts, totaling 1,957 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Herbert has also caught 54 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns during stints with the Bears, Bengals and Jets.
Wright signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has appeared in four career games with the Ravens and Buccaneers. He has 6 rushing yards on three carries.