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.
“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.