49ers activate Kerryon Johnson; place JaMycal Hasty and Kevin Givens on IR

The 49ers are continuing to work down their running back depth chart and might have to turn to a new face on Sunday.

On Saturday, the 49ers activated running back Kerryon Johnson from their practice squad, moving running back JaMycal Hasty and defensive tackle Kevin Givens to the injured reserve in a pair of corresponding moves. Both Hasty and Givens are dealing with high-ankle sprains.

Hasty has been a valuable backup back for the 49ers over the past two seasons and was primed for a more prominent role following injuries to the team’s top backs.

However, after racking up 59 yards from scrimmage on nine touches (five carries and four receptions) last Sunday against the Eagles, he’ll have to work his way back from an injury before seeing another extended opportunity.

Givens has been an effective rotational lineman for the Niners, almost entirely on the interior line. He appeared in nearly half of the team’s defensive snaps in their Week 1 victory over the Lions but played on just five snaps last Sunday before injuring his ankle. Givens has racked up 21 tackles, five tackles for loss, and one sack over 16 games in his career.

A former second-round pick, Johnson looked like a future difference-maker with Detroit after his rookie season in 2018. Johnson racked up 854 yards from scrimmage on 5.4 yards per carry alongside more than 200 yards receiving.

His efficiency on the ground significantly declined over the past two seasons, but he remained a good pass-catching option. Johnson’s limitations left him on the open market, which allowed the 49ers to sign him to the practice squad last week, and now he’ll look to make an impact on the 53-man roster.