Although Christian McCaffrey was unavailable, the San Francisco 49ers’ offense showcased a variety of talents on Monday night, particularly at the running back position.
In McCaffrey’s absence, Jordan Mason, a third-year player making his inaugural start, received the majority of the carries for the 49ers. Despite limited experience in regular-season games, Mason capitalized on his opportunities, demonstrating his capabilities once again against the Jets.
Facing a formidable defense, Mason achieved an impressive 147 yards on 28 carries, which included a five-yard touchdown run to commence the third quarter. The 49ers ultimately triumphed over the Jets with a score of 32-19.
It’s your night Jordan Mason #FTTB
📺: #NYJvsSF on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/4IRdbxk2xE— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2024
Discover the standout performer from Monday night below:
Productive back
Mason participated in 33 games throughout his two seasons in the NFL, both of which were with the 49ers. He recorded a total of 83 carries, accumulating 464 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Notably, Mason boasts an impressive career average of 5.6 yards per carry. As a rookie, he achieved an outstanding average of 6.0 yards per carry, followed by a solid 5.2 yards per carry in 2023.
Most yards per carry in 2022-23 (min. 75 carries, lol):
1. De'Von Achane (7.9)
2. Jordan Mason (5.6) pic.twitter.com/YbU4Zw8TeQ— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) August 26, 2024
Capable of Shouldering the Burden
Although he has not frequently been called upon, Mason has previously managed a substantial workload. During his rookie season, he participated in three games where he recorded at least eight carries. Last year, he achieved a personal best of 69 yards and a touchdown on merely 10 carries in San Francisco’s decisive victory over the Cowboys in Week 5.
Alumnus of Georgia Tech
Mason completed his collegiate career at Georgia Tech, where he maintained a career average of 5.2 yards per carry. His most impressive season was in 2019, during which he accumulated 899 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, also averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
NFL Comparison
Mason bears resemblance to Najee Harris, a four-year veteran with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who is the sole player to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past three seasons. Like Harris, Mason is a robust and resilient running back, making him challenging to tackle. He exhibits decisiveness in his running style, particularly excelling in plays between the tackles.
Additionally, Mason’s playing style is akin to that of Marion Barber, the former Pro Bowl running back for the Cowboys.
