Jordan Mason played 15 offensive snaps during the San Francisco 49ers' loss to the Cleveland Browns, while Elijah Mitchell played just seven. Should running back Christian McCaffrey's oblique/rib injury sideline him for the upcoming game against the Vikings, one or both of these players will likely take on more prominent roles.
While Mitchell did not grade well in the eyes of Pro Football Focus analysts (69.8 for Mason vs. 56.0 for Mitchell), it is worth noting that Sunday was the fourth-year running back's first game back from a knee injury. Kyle Shanahan isn't dismissing the possibility of Mitchell playing more snaps should McCaffrey be unavailable.
"I mean, Elijah's earned a ton with us over these years," Shanahan told reporters during a Monday afternoon conference call. "I think Elijah, when he's been healthy, has been as good of a back as there is. He's just had a hard time staying healthy.
"But I also can't take away anything from JP (Jordan Ponchez Mason). I mean, every time JP's got his opportunities, you guys see how he's done. So both of those guys have done very well."
Mitchell's reduced playing time was attributed to limited practice reps in the lead-up to Sunday's game. After not practicing on Wednesday, the player was a limited participant during Thursday's and Friday's sessions.
"Elijah came back and practiced late last week on Thursday, so he got really one true day of practice in, and that's that's why JP got the first nod once Christian came out," Shanahan shared. "But we got two really good players there, and I know Ty [Davis-Price] is waiting for his opportunity also. So hopefully, Christian will be good to go this week, but if not, we got a group of backs that we can rely on."