49ers
49ers · Player

Kaelon Black

Position
RB
Number
#26
Age
24
Pieces here
28

On the record

Called Shots →
Held upJul 29, 2026

Kaelon Black is on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster as announced at the August 30, 2026 mandatory cut. Scored off the initial 53 only: the practice squad is a miss, a later signing or elevation after the initial roster is a miss, and being placed on injured reserve from the initial 53 counts as a hit.

MissedAug 24, 2026

Kaelon Black is credited with at least one kickoff return in the 49ers' preseason finale at Las Vegas on August 27, 2026.

Held upAug 26, 2026

Nick Martin is on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster announced at the August 30, 2026 cutdown. The take is WRONG if he is waived, released, traded, or placed on injured reserve or reserve/PUP before that roster is submitted, and WRONG if his name is absent from it for any other reason.

MissedAug 29, 2026

Jalen Stroman is on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster as announced at the August 30, 2026 cutdown. Scored off the club's announced initial 53-man roster and nothing else. The practice squad is not the 53, and a signing, claim or elevation after the initial roster is announced is not the 53. A player placed on injured reserve FROM the initial 53 counts as having made it, per the Kaelon Black precedent of 2026-07-29.

Held upAug 29, 2026

Nate Hobbs is on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster as announced at the August 30, 2026 cutdown. Scored off the club's announced initial 53-man roster and nothing else. The practice squad is not the 53, and a signing, claim or elevation after the initial roster is announced is not the 53. A player placed on injured reserve FROM the initial 53 counts as having made it, per the Kaelon Black precedent of 2026-07-29.

MissedAug 29, 2026

Jordan Watkins is NOT on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster as announced at the August 30, 2026 cutdown. If his name is on that roster, this is WRONG. Scored off the club's announced initial 53-man roster and nothing else. The practice squad is not the 53, and a signing, claim or elevation after the initial roster is announced is not the 53. A player placed on injured reserve FROM the initial 53 counts as having made it, per the Kaelon Black precedent of 2026-07-29.

Held upAug 29, 2026

Ashtyn Davis is NOT on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster as announced at the August 30, 2026 cutdown. If his name is on that roster, this is WRONG. Scored off the club's announced initial 53-man roster and nothing else. The practice squad is not the 53, and a signing, claim or elevation after the initial roster is announced is not the 53. A player placed on injured reserve FROM the initial 53 counts as having made it, per the Kaelon Black precedent of 2026-07-29.

OpenSep 6, 2026

The 49ers win 10 or more of their 17 regular-season games in 2026. The stated line is 9.5; 9 wins or fewer grades this WRONG.

OpenSep 6, 2026

Kaelon Black finishes with more 2026 regular-season rushing yards than Jordan James. A tie grades this WRONG.

Written about him

Week 1 Takeaways

San Francisco Stopped The Rams On Fourth And One At Its Own 1, Then Drove 99 Yards

The 49ers opened 1-0 with a 27-7 win over the Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Thursday evening in the Bay Area and Friday morning in Australia. Los Angeles reached the San Francisco 1 in the third quarter and turned the ball over on downs; San Francisco answered with an 11-play, 99-yard touchdown drive. Connor Colby started at left guard and the whole line played every snap, George Kittle played 30 of 65 in his return, Kaelon Black carried more often than Christian McCaffrey, and De'Zhaun Stribling started at receiver without being thrown to. Nine takeaways off the official game book.

Sam KezarSep 11, 20265 min read
San Francisco Stopped The Rams On Fourth And One At Its Own 1, Then Drove 99 Yards
Depth Chart

Connor Colby And Kaelon Black Fill The Two Jobs Shanahan Called Fluid

San Francisco's public depth chart carried an empty box at left guard from August 27 until this week. Read at 2:52 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, it is stamped 09/4/26 and lists Connor Colby first at left guard and Carver Willis second. It also lists Kaelon Black second at running back ahead of Jordan James, which is the other job Kyle Shanahan called fluid on August 31, and George Kittle and Nick Bosa as starters. Colby was the incumbent in July, was passed by Robert Jones and then by Willis in August, and is first again on the club's own page. Jarrett Patterson, traded for to compete at guard, is listed second at center. The chart predates three roster moves and has one empty box left, at long snapper. The first Melbourne practice is Sunday at 7:50 p.m. Pacific.

Sam KezarSep 6, 20264 min read
Connor Colby And Kaelon Black Fill The Two Jobs Shanahan Called Fluid
Preseason Takeaways

Five Rookies Started And The Kicker Scored All Eighteen Points

The 49ers beat the Raiders 18-12 at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday night. Eddy Pineiro made all six of his field goals and scored every point San Francisco scored; neither team reached the end zone. The official game book lists five rookies in the starting lineup, three on offense: Carver Willis at left guard, Enrique Cruz Jr. at left tackle and Kaelon Black at running back. Cruz played all 61 offensive snaps and rookie safety Jalen Stroman played all 66 on defense. Jaden Dugger led the team with ten tackles, Jordan James played his first snaps of the preseason and drew a penalty that wiped out a touchdown, and Jordan Watkins ran, caught and returned. The roster is due at 53 on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. PT.

Sam KezarAug 28, 20265 min read
Five Rookies Started And The Kicker Scored All Eighteen Points
Camp Battles

Jordan James And Kaelon Black Have Eight Preseason Carries Between Them

San Francisco opened camp with a two-man competition to back up Christian McCaffrey. Across two preseason games Kaelon Black has carried the ball eight times and Jordan James has not carried it at all, because one had an adductor injury and the other a fractured rib. Sincere McCormick, a third-year back outside the projected 53, leads the team with 16 carries for 91 yards. One practice and one game remain before the roster is due Sunday.

Sam KezarAug 24, 20264 min read
Jordan James And Kaelon Black Have Eight Preseason Carries Between Them
Camp Notebook

Carver Willis Took The First-Team Left Guard Reps In El Segundo

Notes from Tuesday's joint practice against the Chargers in El Segundo, in order of what they do to the 53. The left guard competition moved, the secondary gave up deep balls to three different men, and a number of starters will play Thursday.

Sam KezarAug 18, 20263 min read
Carver Willis Took The First-Team Left Guard Reps In El Segundo

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