It didn’t take long for Tevin Coleman to make an impact.
After romping for two touchdowns in the 49ers’ 37-15 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, the running back has been rewarded with a promotion to the 53-man roster. In some corresponding roster shuffling, recently released running back Marlon Back has been retained on the team’s practice squad.
Coleman rushed the ball eight times for 23 yards and a score while also catching three passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. The 29-year-old previously played 22 games with the Niners in 2019-20 and appears to be in the stable for San Francisco as they await the return of running back Elijah Mitchell, who could be back around Week 9.
“Mr. Reliable,” quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo called Coleman after the game. “He’s just always in the right spot. He’s very calm, but he brings that energy. Some of those cuts he made today – you don’t see those a lot from running backs.”
Coleman slots in as the RB2 behind Jeff Wilson Jr., who enters Week 6 at No. 8 on the league’s rushing leaderboard with 375 yards. The team also has untapped undrafted rookie Jordan Mason, while third-round draftee Ty Davis-Price is nearing a return after suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 2.
Mack, 26, is yet to carry the ball for the 49ers but has appeared on five special teams plays, recovering a fumble. He racked up 1,999 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2018-19 with the Indianapolis Colts but hasn’t been able to find his footing since injuring his Achilles in 2020.
The team also announced that kicker Sam Sloman has been signed from the practice squad, in case Robbie Gould (knee contusion) can’t play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers have released third-string quarterback Kurt Benkert to make room for Sloman.
