Shanahan: McKinnon injury 'changes things pretty drastically' for 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers were dealt their first big loss before the season even started when Jerick McKinnon tore his ACL on Saturday.

The running back was the Niners' prized offseason addition. The team signed him to a four-year, $30-million deal on the first day of free agency.

"Since the day we signed him, we've been game-planning for Minnesota. So I'm not going to lie - it changes things pretty drastically," head coach Kyle Shanahan said of McKinnon's season-ending injury Wednesday, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.

"That was (our) first target in free agency, so once you do it, you have a plan on how to use him, especially going into Week 1."

The lucrative McKinnon deal was one of the more surprising moves of the offseason, leaving critics curious about how he'd be used in Shanahan's offense.

Instead, the 49ers will turn to Matt Breida and Alfred Morris to carry the load out of the backfield.

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