Podcast: Mini-Camp Musings With Jordan Elliott →
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports


Elijah Mitchell sets 49ers record for most rushing yards by a rookie

Jan 2, 2022 at 3:08 PM--


Running back Elijah Mitchell needed 53 more rushing yards to set a San Francisco 49ers franchise record for the most rushing yards by a rookie. He entered Sunday's game with 759 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 165 carries through nine game appearances and eight starts this season.

Mitchell gained the yardage needed during the third quarter of the team's Week 17 matchup against the Houston Texans, surpassing the 811 rushing yards by Vic Washington in 1971. Washington accomplished the feat in 14 game appearances while Mitchell did so in 10.

Update: Mitchell finished the game with 119 rushing yards, increasing his season total to 878 rushing yards.

Sunday was Mitchell's first game back since suffering a knee injury during Week 13.

Mitchell has been a pleasant surprise this season. In August, the sixth-round pick was just hoping to show enough on special teams to make the roster.

"Like I said, I'm willing to do anything and everything just to be on this team," Mitchell said in August. "So, [special teams] is going to be one of my roles but also being a running back too."

Mitchell did make the roster. Then, a season-ending injury to Raheem Mostert forced the rookie to become the team's featured back. Mitchell is proving to be more than a role player. He's showing coaches, fans, and opponents that he deserves to be named among the NFL's best young running backs.

"I always had that mindset of coming in and wanting to play, wanting to start, really," Mitchell said last month. "But when I first came in, it was the thought that everybody had, where they're coming in, being drafted. Special teams, that was my one key because I knew we had a deep room and everything. But things happen, so when it was my time, when my name was called, I was just ready to go."

Now, Mitchell is in the 49ers record books, in front of names like Washington, Ken Willard, Roger Craig, and Earl Cooper.

Related News





LISTEN

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News



49ers could use rookie Ji'Ayir Brown in three-safety sets

By David Bonilla
Jun 2

The San Francisco 49ers know who their starting safeties will be in 2023. They are All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga and 12th-year veteran Tashaun Gipson. Gipson, who is 32 years old, reportedly flirted with the idea of retiring this offseason before returning to the Niners on a one-year deal. The always forward-thinking 49ers used their first pick in April's draft, a third-rounder, to add a player they hope can be Gipson's eventual replacement—Ji'Ayir Brown out of Penn State. Don't expect Brown to simply be an observer on the sidelines during his rookie season while Hufanga and Gipson do all the work. The 49ers plan to find ways to get him onto the football field and gain valuable experience. According to The Athletic, the coaches plan to utilize some three-safety



49ers Mailbag: What happens if Sam Darnold beats out Trey Lance? Which rookie will play the most in 2023? Which question stumped us?

By Marc Adams
May 31

What happens if Sam Darnold beats out Trey Lance? We're answering this question and others in this week's edition of the 49ers Webzone Mailbag. It's week two of OTAs, and the 49ers will have a session open to the media on Wednesday. It may even be happening as you're reading this. And Brock Purdy is believed to start throwing a ball this week (though probably not a regular football). But for now, ignore those reports, and let's jump into our latest mailbag and answer your questions. Who's starting on Opening Day at FS? - Chris W. The 49ers re-signed veteran free safety Tashaun Gipson to a one-year deal and drafted Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown back in April. Brown is the future starting free safety. That future is most likely to



Could 49ers rookie Ji'Ayir Brown push Tashaun Gipson for the starting safety job?

By Rohan Chakravarthi
16 hrs

The San Francisco 49ers found themselves in a unique predicament ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, as they entered with no first or second-round selections. Still, they were able to land a productive player with their first third-round pick, trading up 16 spots to take Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown, a player I was high on ahead of the draft. Despite the good value of the selection, there were still questions surrounding his production in Year 1, given where he was taken and the incumbents at the position, Tashaun Gipson and Talanoa Hufanga. But, after initial reports have come out good for Brown, is there a chance for him to push Gipson for a starting role opposite of Hufanga in



49ers Notebook: Javon Hargrave's first 49ers thoughts; Trent Williams' weird late-night workout schedule; Wilks on DBs; Deommodore Lenoir wants to be elite

By Kirk Larrabee
Jun 7

The 49ers ended their offseason workout program on Wednesday with their final session of mandatory minicamp. But before they made their way out the door for the summer, the team gave fans and reporters one last dose of info in the form of the final media sessions of the spring. Among those speaking to reporters on Wednesday were defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, left tackle Trent Williams and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, as well as defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Each session produced some interesting tidbits, which we'll review in this version of 49ers notebook. Hargrave speaks Despite being the splash free agent addition of the offseason for the 49ers, Javon Hargrave had not met with the team's beat reporters in person before Wednesday.


Featured

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone