At one point in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers were down to newly acquired running back Trenton Cannon on the depth chart. Every other running back, at some point during the 17-11 win, sustained an injury. Even fullback Kyle Juszczyk was slow to get to the sideline after dealing with a leg cramp. Obviously, that one is not serious, but head coach Kyle Shanahan did provide updates on the others.
The first running back to exit the game was Elijah Mitchell, who has been thrust into a starting role due to the season-ending injury to Raheem Mostert. Mitchell returned to the game after medical staff examined him for what was reported as a shoulder injury. Several other injuries to running backs occurring after his probably played a part in the decision, too.
"He said he was good enough to come back in, so that's when you think it's a stinger," Shanahan told reporters after the game. "But until you have time to go get an MRI and stuff, you never know. But hoping it was just a stinger. Usually, you feel good about that [with] the way he was talking and the way he was able to come back in the game."
Mitchell, a rookie, finished the game with 42 rushing yards on 17 carries and caught two passes for 11 yards.
Another rookie, Trey Sermon, was the next running back sidelined. Sermon was on the receiving end of a helmet-to-helmet impact on his first NFL carry and was evaluated for a head injury. Cannon replaced the rookie.
"It was a really good job by Trenton," Shanahan said. "He's only been here since Wednesday, and we dressed him to really help us out on special teams today. From what I saw, I think he did a hell of a job, and we weren't expecting him to go in at running back. But I think he did go in for a couple of carries. We're just glad he knew what to do."
JaMycal Hasty also left the game with an ankle injury. The 49ers coach didn't have an update on that one, though.
"I don't know Hasty's ankle, the severity of it," Shanahan said.
Hasty finished with 38 yards on five carries and also hauled in four receptions for 21 yards.
The 49ers will return to the Bay Area and use the upcoming week to prepare for their home opener against the Green Bay Packers.