On Friday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers placing Mitchell on injured reserve was not a certainty. That's because the team has two remaining opportunities to bring players back from injured reserve, having already used six. They will presumably use one more for defensive Javon Kinlaw, who Shanahan said may return soon.
"You're allowed eight, so that's the biggest thing," Shanahan explained. "I think we need to use them by [the start of the playoffs] because the playoffs aren't four weeks long. ... But that's the stuff that goes all into it. That's why we didn't decide to do it with [defensive tackle] Arik [Armstead], even though it was a long time ago. We just weren't sure how many we'd have at the end of the year.
"We feel pretty good, [with] six games left, where we're at. But we'll make a decision on Elijah, most likely, in the next 24 hours."
The decision has been made, and the second-year running back again finds himself on injured reserve.
Mitchell's earlier stint on the injured reserve list started on September 13 after suffering the same injury to his right knee in Week 1. The 49ers activated the running back off injured reserve on November 12, and Mitchell rushed for 183 yards, averaging 5.38 yards per carry in the three games since his return.
"He's pretty disappointed," Shanahan shared this past week, the day after the injury occurred. "Everyone knows how good Elijah's been, how hard he worked to get back from his last one, how good he's been playing since he came back, and to kind of be right back there, I know he was real down on it. It's unfortunate for him. He's just had some real bad luck."
The 49ers expect Mitchell to miss six to eight weeks, similar to the time he missed during his earlier injury. Shanahan hopes to get Mitchell back for the playoffs, assuming the team can make a deep run for the second consecutive season.
"Hopefully, we can do our job here so, when he comes back, we're still playing," Shanahan said.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers announce roster moves ahead of Sunday's matchup with Bears, place two more players on IR
On Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears: Placed RB Jordan Mason on IR (injured reserve) Activated S Talanoa Hufanga from IR Placed S George Odum on IR Promoted OL Sebastian Gutierrez from the... -
Brock Purdy reflects on lessons learned during challenging 49ers season
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy acknowledges that this season has been anything but easy. The team's 5-7 record and three-game losing streak reflect the struggles. Purdy has faced his own challenges, including a shoulder injury that sidelined him during the loss to... -
Deebo Samuel, De'Vondre Campbell succumb to frustration as 49ers season washes away
In a rain-soaked stadium, facing their mirror image once again, the San Francisco 49ers stood by and let their season slip away. If not officially, the 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams marks the end of San Francisco's faint playoff hopes. The 49ers, who now fall to 6-8, have... -
No Huddle Podcast: The 49ers' Season is Over
(Episode 395) — Al Sacco and Brian Renick react to the 49ers' season effectively being over, Deebo's performance confirming that he does not deserve to be on the 49ers anymore, the lack of flow on offense, the defense doing their part against the Rams, which defensive...