On Friday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers placing Mitchell on injured reserve was not a certainty. That's because the team has two remaining opportunities to bring players back from injured reserve, having already used six. They will presumably use one more for defensive Javon Kinlaw, who Shanahan said may return soon.
"You're allowed eight, so that's the biggest thing," Shanahan explained. "I think we need to use them by [the start of the playoffs] because the playoffs aren't four weeks long. ... But that's the stuff that goes all into it. That's why we didn't decide to do it with [defensive tackle] Arik [Armstead], even though it was a long time ago. We just weren't sure how many we'd have at the end of the year.
"We feel pretty good, [with] six games left, where we're at. But we'll make a decision on Elijah, most likely, in the next 24 hours."
The decision has been made, and the second-year running back again finds himself on injured reserve.
Mitchell's earlier stint on the injured reserve list started on September 13 after suffering the same injury to his right knee in Week 1. The 49ers activated the running back off injured reserve on November 12, and Mitchell rushed for 183 yards, averaging 5.38 yards per carry in the three games since his return.
"He's pretty disappointed," Shanahan shared this past week, the day after the injury occurred. "Everyone knows how good Elijah's been, how hard he worked to get back from his last one, how good he's been playing since he came back, and to kind of be right back there, I know he was real down on it. It's unfortunate for him. He's just had some real bad luck."
The 49ers expect Mitchell to miss six to eight weeks, similar to the time he missed during his earlier injury. Shanahan hopes to get Mitchell back for the playoffs, assuming the team can make a deep run for the second consecutive season.
"Hopefully, we can do our job here so, when he comes back, we're still playing," Shanahan said.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Kyle Shanahan surges in Coach of the Year race after late-season success
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan continues to draw praise after Sunday night's win over the Chicago Bears, a victory that set up a high-stakes Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. On the line: the NFC West title, the NFC's No. 1 seed, and home-field... -
49ers vs. Bears was a game that defined a season
Sunday night, my hands were shaking when the game ended. The back-and-forth between the 49ers and the Bears was nerve-rattling, to say the least. Any game involving your favorite team that comes down to the final four seconds is enough to put anyone in therapy. The game was a... -
Could the 49ers take a late-season gamble on Trevon Diggs?
The Dallas Cowboys have released cornerback Trevon Diggs, their 2020 second-round pick, placing him on waivers Tuesday. Given his remaining salary, Diggs is unlikely to be claimed and is expected to reach free agency soon. CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan identified five potential... -
49ers' Brock Purdy and Jauan Jennings find late-season groove ahead of playoff push
After a slow start to the season while working through multiple injuries, wide receiver Jauan Jennings has hit his stride at the right time. He has scored six touchdowns over his last five games and found the end zone in seven of his past eight outings. Since quarterback Brock...