28 Carlos Hyde RB

Hyde (knee) believes the 49ers' competition at running back will ultimately benefit him this season, Keiana Martin of the team's official website reports.

Hyde is entering the final year of his rookie contract after rushing for a career-best 988 yards and six touchdowns on 4.6 yards per carry, and also catching 27 passes for 163 yards and three more scores last season. Despite that success, however, Hyde's production was cut short somewhat by missing three games due to shoulder and knee problems. While he's expected to recover from his season-ending torn MCL in time for training camp, Hyde will need to acclimate while fending off competition from offseason additions Tim Hightower, Joe Williams and Kapri Bibbs in new coach Kyle Shanahan's scheme. Hyde seems to be motivated by that situation, though, especially after Shanahan utilized both Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman so well in Atlanta last season.

Hyde (knee) could face competition from Joe Williams for the starting job, CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco reports.

A holdover from the previous 49ers regime, Hyde produced 4.6 yards per carry last season to bring his career clip up to 4.3, but a trio of missed games leaves him with 14 absences through three years as he prepares for the final season of his rookie contract. With nothing to suggest the two sides are discussing an extension, the rebuilding 49ers could favor Williams -- who was drafted in the fourth round at No. 121 overall -- if he appears capable of matching or approaching Hyde's usual production. The 235-pound veteran has a clear advantage in terms of size and power, but Williams is still solidly built at 5-foot-10, 210 pounds -- and he ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine. Hyde should make a full recovery from last season's torn MCL before training camp.

San Francisco general manager John Lynch hinted that he isn't sure if Hyde (knee) will be a good fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. "You have these thoughts as to 'Do these skills translate to what we do?'" Lynch said. "[Hyde's] a very talented young man. We are very excited and hopeful, just in the interactions that we've had, that he's come ready to play."

Lynch doesn't sound committed one way or the other, which suggests he at least wants to see how Hyde looks in the Niners' new offense during the team's offseason program and into training camp. Hyde's presence on the roster seemingly won't prevent the team from taking a long look at running backs in the early rounds of the upcoming draft, and the 49ers might even consider dealing Hyde to bolster their stockpile of selections. The 26-year-old had 76 rushing yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry last season while playing in an otherwise hopeless San Francisco offense, but he missed two games with a shoulder injury and sat out Week 17 with a sprained MCL, bringing his total to 14 missed games in three NFL seasons. Hyde recently resumed running and cutting, though not at full speed, and he should be ready for the start of training camp in late July.

Hyde (knee - MCL) has resumed running and cutting, Cam Inman of The Mercury News reports. "I'm back to running. I can cut, just not all the way I like to run, but I'm making improvement," Hyde elaborated.

Hyde finished the 2016 campaign on injured reserve after suffering a torn MCL in his left knee during the Niners' second-to-last game of the season. While his comments suggest he still has progress to make before receiving clearance to partake in football activities, there hasn't been anything to suggest he's at risk of not being ready for the start of training camp in July.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested Hyde (knee) will likely continue in his role as the team's lead runner heading into the 2017 season, the San Jose Mercury News reports. "Right now I see Carlos as being our back," said Shanahan. "We studied a lot of the guys on tape. He's the guy that's got the most."

After battling a foot injury throughout much of the 2016 season, Hyde suffered a season-ending MCL sprain in Week 16, finishing the year with 988 rushing yards on 217 carries (4.6) in 13 games as the centerpiece of a decrepit 49ers offense. Despite playing in just 34 of a possible 48 games through three seasons, Hyde has shown enough when healthy to spark discussion about an extension as he prepares for the final year of his rookie contract. His knee and foot should both be healthy long before training camp, which is good news for a San Francisco team that otherwise lacks talent in the backfield. Hyde could also benefit from playing under new head coach Kyle Shanahan, who spent last season directing a powerful, balanced offense in Atlanta.