49ers RB Elijah Mitchell Will Play Week 10 vs. Chargers

Already stacked in the backfield, running back Elijah Mitchell will rejoin the 49ers’ platoon of tailbacks this weekend.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Friday that Mitchell would be activated off the IR before the team faces the LA Chargers on Sunday Night Football. Joining the RB off the reserve list is linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), offensive tackle Colton McKivitz (knee), and defensive tackle Jordan Willis (knee), all practicing fully this week to be cleared for Week 10.

In total, the 49ers expect eight starting-caliber players to return to the field this weekend, including wide receiver Deebo Samuel, working through a hamstring injury that kept him out in Week 8.

“He was good by Wednesday’s practice so we didn’t have to change reps,” Shanahan said Friday regarding the offensive playmaker.

The #49ers will get back:

WR Deebo Samuel
WR Jauan Jennings
RB Elijah Mitchell
FB Kyle Juszczyk
OL Colton McKivitz
DL Jordan Willis
LB Azeez Al-Shaair
LB Dre Greenlaw

They won’t have Kinlaw, Armstead and Ebukam on Sunday.

— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) November 11, 2022

The injury report wasn’t 100% clean however, defensive tackles Arik Armstead (foot/ankle) and Javon Kinlaw (knee) will remain out for Week 10. Defensive end Samson Ebukam is also in doubt for Sunday’s game, dealing with a quad injury sustained in Monday’s practice.

As for Kinlaw, the former South Carolina standout has been nursing fluid in his surgically-repaired knee since Week 4 against the LA Rams. Wanting to manage his recovery correctly, the 49ers placed him on IR a couple of weeks later. Now set to miss his fourth game, Kinlaw could be activated for Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals in Mexico City, an idea that Shanahan wasn’t very bullish on.

“I think things would have to go really well [in practice] for us to make that decision,” Shanahan stated, explaining that air travel and altitude play factors for the defensive tackle.

The 49ers’ newest injured player, cornerback Jason Verrett (Achilles), will be going on IR in the next 24 hours.

49ers Game Status Report

OUT:

DL Armstead (foot/ankle)

CB Verrett (achilles/knee)

DOUBTFUL:

DE Ebukam (quad/achilles)

CLEARED:

WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring)

WR Jauan Jennings (hamstring)

FB Kyle Juszczyk (hand)

Coming off IR

RB Elijah Mitchell (knee)

LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee)

OT Colton McKivitz (knee)

DE Jordan Willis (knee)

Chargers Game Status Report

OUT:

WR Keenan Allen (hamstring)

WR Mike Williams (ankle)

K Dustin Hopkins (hamstring)

DOUBTFUL:

LB Chris Rumph II (knee)

QUESTIONABLE:

OT Trey Pipkins (knee)

OG Brenden Jaimes (shoulder)

Click here to watch Kyle Shanahan’s full presser

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