The 49ers running back group has been one of the few positions to not slip into complete disaster. It’s definitely a notch below satisfactory, but it’s one of their better positions this season.

Even when Carlos Hyde, their resident bell cow went down for two games, they were able to at least put some semblance of a replacement together. Well, besides the fumble issues. The good news though is Carlos Hyde may be back in action, which will at least improve one part of the offense. He spoke to the media on Thursday following practice and had a few things to say about the season thus far.

The interview begins after the question was asked, but it sounds like it was something about being out of practice:

This week, then last week, today I participated in a whole practice. Things went good and things are headed in a good direction, hopefully things stay on track and nothing takes me off track leading up to Sunday. There’s a good chance I’ll be out there.

Is there a difference in the pain threshold? I know you’re not taking any hits, but can you tell if it’s less painful?

Yeah. Definitely less painful. I hit it on the sled, I was fine. That was the only type of contact I had on it so far and it was fine. No setbacks right now, that’s good.

Does it make a difference that this upcoming game is going to be on grass? If you were playing a turf game you might be more hesitant?

I don’t know...

Not a factor?

Yeah. Not a factor, to me.

How close were you to playing last week? Because you had a pretty good idea that you were not so optimistic last Thursday.

I wanted to play. I actually thought, “What type of steps do we need to take in order for me to play last weekend?” and he [note: this is obviously someone on the 49ers medical staff he was referring to] was like, “Let’s give it another week. See how things go, take it day by day. No need to rush.” So I wanted to play, just listened to the doc.

Chip had mentioned your full range of motion is back. Was that something that—

Yeah, yeah, one thing that restricted me was the full range of motion. Certain movements with the shoulder was causing pain and this week that pain is gone. That’s why I said things are going in a good direction and hopefully it stays that way.

Sounds like you weren’t banging on sleds last week is that right?

No I wasn’t.

Was today the first time you did that?

Yes.

Was there some sort of fear of “Do I really want to do this?” or did you have confidence it was going to be ok

No reason to fear it at all. I hit the pad hard like if I was running somebody over. I need to know. In case I do play and I do have to use my shoulder to get some yards running a guy over, I need to know how it’s going to hold up. I hit the pad pretty hard to see how my shoulders would react to it and I was fine.

You and DuJuan [Harris] haven’t played, both been active at the same time since either of you been here. Looking at his runnnig style does he have the skillset to be the perfect compliment to you considering your more physical guy and he’s more of an outside guy.

Yeah, I think DuJuan he can compliment me very well. The guy makes plays. That’s a guy right there you gotta get the ball to out in open space. He can get keep the chains going just in case I go out and get a breather. Even Shaun [Draughn] has, the games I’ve been out, he’s been in making plays. Definitely a guy we need to win further on.