49ers RB Elijah Mitchell returns to practice

Mitchell has gone through a complicated year, one filled with transactions and a notable role change. But the 49ers have prioritized him to the point they saved their final IR activation for their sixth-round find.

Entering the season as San Francisco’s starter, Mitchell did not make it through Week 1 unscathed. The Louisiana alum suffered a sprained MCL that ended up keeping him out two months. After that lengthy rehab odyssey, Mitchell returned to supplement new RB1 Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers’ McCaffrey-Mitchell plan was working until Mitchell sustained a second MCL sprain that sidelined him to this point.

Mitchell faced a six- to eight-week timetable to return from his second MCL setback this year and it looks like he will hit the early part of that window. The 49ers took advantage of the NFL’s IR change this offseason, which allows teams to activate a player off the injured list twice.

Last season, Mitchell surprised most by becoming San Francisco’s go-to back. He leapfrogged third-round rookie Trey Sermon and finished the season with 963 rushing yards and five touchdowns despite missing six games with an assortment of injuries. Mitchell’s early track record does not present much confidence he can stay healthy, but he has been effective when on the field. Mitchell is averaging 5.6 yards per carry in his sophomore slate.

A report last week indicated Michell and Deebo Samuel were on the verge of returning. The 49ers encountered a tougher-than-expected Raiders obstacle, winning in overtime without the skill-position cogs. 

Samuel, who is finishing off a recovery from an MCL sprain and an ankle injury, returned to practice last week but was held out. The 49ers did not place Samuel on IR, giving him the freedom to return at any point. 

Mitchell being activated would end Hassan Ridgeway‘s season. Ridgeway suffered a pectoral injury in December. The 49ers had used Ridgeway as a fill-in starter but had held their final IR-return spot for Mitchell. Should the plan come to fruition, Mitchell will be the eighth and final 49er activated off IR in what has been another eventful season on the injury front for the team.