49ers RB Elijah Mitchell confirms plan to play Week 1 of regular season

The San Francisco 49ers are looking to have all of their weapons ready for Week 1, with Elijah Mitchell the latest to confirm his availability.

The 49ers running back was asked if he would be suiting up for the team’s season opener in Pittsburgh this week, leaving little doubt that he’ll be there on Sept. 10th.

“Good, ready to go for Week 1,” Elijah Mitchell told reporters after practice Thursday.

“Good, ready to go for week 1.”

Elijah Mitchell will play vs the Steelers, at least according to him. #49ers | #FTTB

— Matt Lively (@mattblively) August 31, 2023

Mitchell, 25, has been in & out of the lineup since his rookie season in the NFL. After breaking out for 1100 yards from scrimmage in 2021, the Louisiana native struggled to stay healthy last season. Suffering two MCL sprains to his knees, Mitchell only appeared in five contests in 2022, opening the door for other RBs to flourish.

Additionally, he has been dealing with an adductor strain for the better part of August, finally back in practice this week.

Since then, the 49ers have found complementary pieces in Jordan Mason and Tyrion Davis-Price to backup starter Christian McCaffrey. That has made Mitchell’s absence easier to stomach, but still, the team feels more complete when all their guys are healthy.

San Francisco will look to utilize all halfbacks in 2023, allowing the All-Pro starter to stay fresh for the 17-game season. The 49ers will hope 2023 doesn’t end there though, looking forward to another deep postseason run.

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