The San Francisco 49ers have officially placed running back Elijah Mitchell on injured reserve, as expected. Mitchell sustained an MCL sprain during the first half of Sunday's matchup against the Chicago Bears. He left the game and did not return.
On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Mitchell would miss about two months and was headed to injured reserve. He will be able to return once healthy.
"Not going to need surgery, but it's going to be some time," Shanahan said. "He'll end up going on IR here. ... We're estimating about two months, eight weeks, give or take a few. So hopefully, it goes well, and it's earlier, but you never know with those things. That's what we're guessing."
Mitchell finished the game with 41 rushing yards on six carries. The 49ers made the running back a sixth-round selection in last year's draft. He led the team in rushing as a rookie with 963 yards and five touchdowns on 207 carries. It was the most single-season rushing yards by a rookie in franchise history. Mitchell also caught 19 passes for 137 yards in 2021.
The 49ers also announced that they have promoted safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. from the practice squad to the active roster. The team also signed offensive lineman Keith Ismael to the practice squad and released offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland and wide receiver Connor Wedington.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the 49ers plan to sign running back Marion Mack to the practice squad. The Indianapolis Colts made Mack a fourth-round pick out of South Florida.
49ers are signing former Texans' RB Marlon Mack to their practice squad, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2022
Mack was among several running backs who were worked out or hosted for a visit.
With Elijah Mitchell on IR, the 49ers worked out RBs Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Nate McCrary, Abram Smith, La'Mical Perine, Godwin, Igwebuike and hosted Marlon Mack on a visit.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 13, 2022
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Ismael (6-3, 310) was originally drafted by the Washington Commanders in the fifth round (156th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Throughout his two-year NFL career with the Commanders (2020-21), he has appeared in 18 games (five starts). Ismael was waived by Washington on September 5, 2022.
A 24-year-old native of San Francisco, CA, Ismael attended San Diego State University (2016-19), where he started all 38 games he appeared in and earned All-Mountain Honors in three consecutive seasons (Second-Team in 2017 & First-Team in 2018-19).
Sutherland (6-5, 315) originally signed a Reserve/Future contract with the team on March 8, 2022, was released on August 30, 2022, then signed to the team's practice squad on August 31, 2022.
Wedington (6-0, 200) originally signed to the team's practice squad on September 7, 2022.