Kyle Shanahan says RB Elijah Mitchell is questionable for NFC Championship game
Jan 27, 2023, 1:38 PM | Updated: 2:17 pm
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 14: Head Coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers addresses the team in the locker room before the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on January 14, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 41-23. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers could be without one of their top running back Sunday in Philadelphia, according to Kyle Shanahan.
The 49ers’ head coach announced Friday that RB Elijah Mitchell will be listed as questionable for the NFC Championship game against the Eagles. Mitchell has been nursing a groin injury, which he suffered last week against the Dallas Cowboys. He had been unable to practice in any capacity for the majority of the week, returning in limited fashion after the media portion of Friday’s walkthrough.
The second-year tailback has battled injuries to his knees for the better part of the 2022 regular season, returning from his second MCL sprain in Week 18.
Luckily, the Red & Gold will have at least one of their star RBs healthy for Sunday, with Christian McCaffrey off the injury report. CMC has been dealing with a bruised calf this week, missing Wednesday and Thursday’s practices. McCaffrey returned to the field Friday, but there was never any serious doubt he’d miss his first conference title game.
“Zero,” McCaffrey said Thursday when asked if there was a chance he wouldn’t be on the field in Philly.
The 49ers have most of their roster healthy heading into the weekend, only quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been listed as out for the NFC Championship.
San Francisco has a tough task ahead of them, facing the No. 1 seed Eagles at their stadium in January. The Niners know it’ll be a very tight clash with the home crowd breathing down their necks the whole game.
To prepare for such an event, Kyle Shanahan shared a clip of the Eagles’ 2003 NFC title loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One play, in particular, stood out: Cornerback Ronde Barber’s 92-yard pick 6 to seal the win and close Veterans Stadium for good.
Wow. Kyle Shanahan showed 49ers the January 2003 NFC title game — when Tampa Bay went into Philadelphia and closed Veterans Stadium with an emphatic road win (Ronde Barber 92-yard pick 6 sealed it).
John Lynch was on that Tampa team and pacing in Shanahan's office while watching
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 27, 2023
San Francisco 49ers’ general manager John Lynch was also on that squad, the starting safety of the eventual Super Bowl champs. Using it to motivate his players ahead of Sunday, Kyle Shanahan knows his team can win this game, he just needs them to see it’s possible to win in Philly as well.
49ers Game Status Report
OUT:
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (foot)
Questionable:
RB Elijah Mitchell (groin)
CB Ambry Thomas (ankle)
