San Francisco 49ers work out four running backs after Elijah Mitchell injury
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell picking up an adductor strain during training camp has led the team to work out four free agents.
Mitchell, 25, is set to be out of action for around a week, meaning Sunday's first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders will likely come too soon for the player. It is the latest in a growing list of injuries for the Louisiana product.
Last season, his second in the league, Mitchell played just five matches because of knee injuries. The running back first sprained and then tore his right medial collateral knee ligament, which meant missing two months of the season.
Perhaps because of these issues, plus the latest minor muscle problem, the Niners are assessing their options on the open market. They have had four running backs in camp while preparing to play the Raiders.
ESPN reports that Brian Hill, Duke Johnson, Jason Huntley and Jeremy McNichols have been working out since Mitchell went down injured. Two of those are familiar faces to the franchise.
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Hill played three games for the Niners during the 2021 season but spent last season in the Canadian Football League. McNichols was also with the team back in 2017 for a year before being waived after taking to the field twice.
Johnson played a single game with the Buffalo Bills last season and has almost a century of appearances in the league. The Pittsburgh Steelers released Huntley at the start of this month.
Mitchell had an injury-hit season season in the league (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)They will want to impress enough to bolster a roster that already boasts Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason, Ronald Awatt, Khalan Laborn, and Tyrion Davis-Price at running back. McCaffrey a two-time Pro Bowler, is the standout option amongst those, but Mitchell is considered a power back and will be a miss.
McCaffrey may also not play during their opening preseason game if head coach Kyle Shanahan's comments are anything to go off. "Usually, when we go scrimmage against guys, I rarely play our starters (in the game)," he told reporters at a press conference after practice on Monday.
"That's usually my plan going into it because I'm a little more into the practices than the games. But I've changed my mind a couple of times, too, based off how those practices go. Usually, that's the plan, but we'll see how these practices go."
After a fortnight together as a team, the Niners travel to Nevada for two joint practices with the Raiders on Thursday and Friday. Those on the fringes of the team will want to take that opportunity to impress and work their way into the team to deputise for any absent starters.
One of those missing is likely to be quarterback Brock Purdy, with Trey Lance, Sam Darnold, and Brandon Allen in line to pick up those game reps. Offensive linemen Aaron Banks, Jon Feliciano and Jaylon Moore are other doubts with various knocks.
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