Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Elijah Mitchell sets 49ers record for most rushing yards by a rookie
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.
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49ers-Saints Injury Updates: Elijah Mitchell, Spencer Burford exit with injuries
The San Francisco 49ers are playing the New Orleans Saints at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Niners once again entered the matchup without defensive lineman Arik Armstead (foot, ankle), who was listed as "doubtful" for the game and among the team's five inactive players.
Below are the 49ers-Saints in-game injury updates.
RB Elijah Mitchell (knee, out)
Elijah Mitchell left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. The 49ers announced that he is "questionable" to return. Judging from some of the reactions on the sidelines, the running back's day may be done.
Update: The 49ers
Elijah Mitchell to miss 6-8 weeks with MCL sprain, other 49ers injury updates from Kyle Shanahan
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan jumped on a conference call with reporters on Monday, a day after the team's 13-0 win over the New Orleans Saints. He provided several injury updates from the game.
Running back Elijah Mitchell suffered an MCL sprain in his left knee. The team initially thought it wasn't as severe as the MCL sprain he suffered in his right knee during Week 1, forcing him to miss seven games. The 49ers believed he might miss two or three weeks. That isn't the case, though.
"It wasn't the news we were looking for," Shanahan said. "He'll be out longer than that. Most likely six to eight weeks."
Mitchell will likely land back on the injured reserve list. Shanahan said the team hopes he can return sometime during the playoffs.
With Elijah Mitchell out, 49ers RB Jordan Mason will get his chance to shine
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Nov 28
Since the beginning of the offseason, San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason has made the most of his opportunities, earning praise for his hard-nosed, physical running style that embodied an NFL player.
However, due to a variety of circumstances, Mason has yet to see significant NFL action.
After Elijah Mitchell suffered a sprained MCL in Week 1, Mason could've seen opportunities behind Jeff Wilson in San Francisco's running back rotation, given his performance in the offseason and style of play.
But, the 49ers opted for a different direction, utilizing Wilson as a bell-cow back, significantly decreasing the team's efficiency on the ground, before involving veteran Tevin Coleman, who had a short stint on the active
49ers set new record for most wins on Monday Night Football
The San Francisco 49ers knocked off the Arizona Cardinals 38-10 on Monday night at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The team set a new record for wins on Monday Night Football with the victory. San Francisco's 52 wins break a first-place tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Franchises with the most wins on Monday Night Football:
San Francisco 49ers - 52
Pittsburgh Steelers - 51
Dallas Cowboys - 49
Miami Dolphins - 43
Las Vegas Raiders - 42
The 49ers are now 5-1 against the Cardinals on Monday Night Football. In addition, they are now 3-1 in international play.
Monday night's game was a rematch of the inaugural NFL regular season game played in Mexico City on October 2, 2005.
