The San Francisco 49ers made a surprise move when they announced their final cuts.
Running back Elijah Mitchell didn’t make the initial 53-man roster because he was placed on Injured Reserve. He was did not receive a designation to return, meaning his 2024 season is over.
It was unclear at first what injury he sustained that ended his season early, but it might also end his tumultuous tenure with the 49ers.
ESPN’s Nick Wagoner later reported it was a hamstring injury that ended Mitchell’s season. He suffered a hamstring injury early in training camp. The one that ended his year was a separate, more severe injury.
Since being drafted in the sixth-round of the 2021 draft, Mitchell has run the gamut of being a star starting running back to an oft-injured reserve. In his first three seasons he played in only 27 games with 12 starts.
Even after moving into a reserve role behind Christian McCaffrey he was unable to stay healthy with any level of consistency.
Still, his absence from the roster is a hit for the 49ers given how productive he’s been as a pro. Mitchell in 27 games has 327 carries for 1,523 yards and nine touchdowns. It’s hard to feel like those numbers aren’t a bit of a disappointment given how quickly he burst on the scene. He broke out as a rookie with 963 rushing yards and five scores in 207 carries.
Running backs who did make the club are McCaffrey, Jordan Mason, rookie Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor.
Mitchell is due to hit free agency in the offseason. He could reach a buyout with the 49ers this year and become an unrestricted free agent this season.
