Elijah Mitchell Injury Update: Jeff Wilson Jr. Fantasy Update
Elijah Mitchell Injury Update: Jeff Wilson Jr. Fantasy Update
Elijah Mitchell left Sunday's Week 1 game for the 49ers due to a knee injury. Mitchell may have been the victim of terrible field conditions on a soggy, rainy, Soldier Field, on Sunday. Mitchell finished Week 1 with six carries for 41 yards.
In the play, prior to Mitchell coming off the field, it appeared the injury was to his right MCL. Typically, this is a 2-3 week injury but could be up to two months if it's a higher grade sprain. The next options at running back are rookie third-round pick Tyrion Davis-Price a healthy scratch Sunday, the 49ers' healthy options at running back are Jeff Wilson and Jordan Mason.
Jeff Wilson Jr. will be the immediate beneficiary in the 9ers backfield but don't sleep on the rookie Tryion Davis-Price. The 49ers made a huge statement in favor of the rookie Davis-Price when they cut Trey Sermon ahead of Week 1. Davis-Price was a healthy scratch likely due to his lack of experience playing special teams.
In three games last year without Mitchell, Wilson Jr. was very productive. With 14 rushes for 45 yards and a score versus the Titans, 21 rushes for 110 yards and a score versus the Falcons, and 19 rushes for just 50 yards versus the Jaguars.
Mitchell had played 68% of the snaps for the 49ers against the Bears before the injury. Yes, Deebo Samuel takes work out of the backfield but a true running back in a Kyle Shanahan backfield is valuable. With a mobile quarterback in Trey Lance, the running back alongside him will always have an advantage against a defense.