Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Jim Harbaugh isn’t second guessing keeping LaMichael James to start season

LaMichael James, Andre Hal

San Francisco 49ers’ LaMichael James (23) is stopped by Houston Texans’ Andre Hal (38) during the first quarter of an NFL football preseason game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

AP

The San Francisco 49ers kept running back LaMichael James on their 53-man roster to begin the regular season only to release him after their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

James skipped offseason workouts with the team and openly expressed a desire for a new start elsewhere, including asking for his release from the team.

James had just two carries for zero yards in the game last week against Dallas.

According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, Harbaugh isn’t second guessing their choice to see a little more of James before electing to cut him this week.

“We felt like, you know at that time, LaMichael was the player we still wanted to look at, still wanted to develop,” Harbaugh said. “Couldn’t second guess that one.”

Harbaugh doesn’t regret the decision to keep James for just one week - a move that ultimately cost them rookie running back Glenn Winston. James had missed time during the preseason due to a dislocated elbow.

With James’ release, the 49ers have just two running backs - Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde - on their active roster for this week’s game against the Chicago Bears.