Elijah Mitchell’s comeback from a hamstring injury faced a major setback when the San Francisco 49ers placed him on injured reserve on Tuesday. This move, which does not include one of the designations for return, effectively ends his season. The decision underscores the severity of his recent injury, which has proven more serious than initially anticipated.
The latest injury reportedly occurred during a practice session earlier this week. Although Mitchell participated in individual drills while wearing full practice gear, he did not engage in team drills. This new injury adds to Mitchell’s history of health problems, which have consistently affected his performance and availability.
Mitchell’s injury woes are especially significant as this is the final year of his rookie contract. His career has been plagued by various injuries, limiting him to 27 games and 12 starts over the past three seasons. These ongoing issues have prevented him from establishing himself as a reliable option in the 49ers’ running game.
In his rookie year, Mitchell made a notable impact by rushing for 963 yards and five touchdowns in just 11 games. However, his role diminished in subsequent seasons, particularly after the 49ers acquired Christian McCaffrey. This season, Mitchell was competing for the backup role behind McCaffrey but struggled with his hamstring injury.
With Mitchell out, Jordan Mason has stepped up as a potential primary backup. Mason’s strong performance and versatility have been highlighted by Coach Kyle Shanahan, who praised his improvement in stamina and overall play. Alongside McCaffrey and Mason, the 49ers have also included Patrick Taylor Jr. and rookie Isaac Guerendo on their roster.
