After taking the preseason off, San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell should be ready to take on a full workload in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Mitchell was dealing with a hamstring injury, but it sounds like the second-year player and the team's leading rusher from last season is good to go.
Is Mitchell at a place where he can handle a full workload? That question was presented to head coach Kyle Shanahan after Friday's practice.
"I hope so," Shanahan responded. "You hope a running back can always handle a full workload. He's looked good these two weeks in these practices that we've had. He's 100 percent. We'll see how it goes with that, though."
The 49ers have four running backs on the roster. Besides Mitchell and veteran Jeff Wilson, the team has rookies Tyrion Davis-Price and Jordan Mason. With poor weather expected on Sunday, could the two first-year players both be active in Chicago?
"Those guys are battling," Shanahan said. "We could possibly get four up, but a lot goes into this stuff. It's not just about carrying the ball. Rarely do three guys always get the ball in a game, but we use three somehow.
"I'm sure we had four up at some time, so we'll see who our final guys are up on Sunday. Those guys have been battling all week and doing a good job in the run game, and they're both getting better on special teams."
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