San Francisco 49ers

Journeyman Harris makes impression with 49ers in season finale

Published Jan. 4, 2016 6:34 p.m. ET

foxsports

Coach Jim Tomsula was shown the door after one season, but a player who was on the roster for less than two weeks may have earned an invitation to return to the San Francisco 49ers.

Running back DuJuan Harris provided a spark to a long-dormant running game in Sunday's regular-season finale, rushing for 67 yards on 16 carries and hauling in a team-high eight catches for 86 yards in a 19-16 overtime win over the St. Louis Rams.

DuJuan Harris has gains of 21, 22, 25, 31 and 47 yards since signing with the #49ers five minutes ago.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) January 3, 2016

Making the performance even more impressive was the fact that Harris did not sign with the 49ers until Dec. 22. San Francisco was the fifth landing spot this season for Harris, who appeared in a pair of games for NFC West rival Seattle early last month before he was cut loose.

“He ran like heck,” Tomsula said at his final press conference Sunday, an hour before he was dismissed as the team's coach. "The personnel department did a nice job.”

Harris, who played three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, added a big-play element desperately needed by the 49ers. He broke off a 47-yard run against the Rams and also had catches of 31 and 21 yards, becoming the first back since Frank Gore in 2012 to lead the team in rushing and receiving in one game.

The 5-foot-7, 197-pound Harris was on the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens when an injury to Shaun Draughn led the 49ers to sign him. He had a strong debut with 11 carries for 73 yards in Week 16 and averaged 5.2 yards in his two-game stint.