49ers vs. Vikings: Elijah Mitchell, Dre Greenlaw active for Week 12

The 49ers are receiving a couple of reinforcements for Week 12 versus the Vikings with Dre Greenlaw and Elijah Mitchell coming back from injuries.

It might seem like a foreign concept for San Francisco 49ers fans, especially after what’s happened in recent years.

But the Niners are actually getting somewhat healthier down the stretch, and they’re receiving two key reinforcements returning from injuries ahead of their Week 12 home matchup against the visiting Minnesota Vikings.

San Francisco recently reactivated third-year linebacker Dre Greenlaw off injured reserve, and he’s expected to be back in the defensive rotation after missing each game prior after suffering a groin injury way back in Week 1. And while this might create a bit of a logjam at the position, as reserve linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been playing well in Greenlaw’s absence, it’s nevertheless a problem the 49ers wouldn’t mind having.

On top of Greenlaw’s return, the Niners are also expecting rookie running back Elijah Mitchell, who missed their Week 11 road win over the Jacksonville Jaguars with a finger injury, back from a one-week absence.

49ers inactives for Week 12 vs. Vikings

San Francisco has all of its 2021 rookie NFL Draft class active for Week 12, including Mitchell and fellow running back Trey Sermon.

For this contest, the 49ers aren’t dressing the following players:

• DL Maurice Hurst
• RB JaMycal Hasty
• OL Colton McKivitz
• EDGE Jordan Willis

Hurst and Hasty have been dealing with injuries, while the emergence of depth EDGE Arden Key, who has three sacks on the season, has somewhat negated the need for Willis to be a factor.

Read More: 49ers vs. Vikings: Week 12 injuries, betting odds and how to watch

But the biggest boost should be Mitchell’s return, particularly against a Vikings defense that has surrendered an average of 4.9 yards per rush this season, second worst in the NFL entering Week 12.

If the Niners want to ensure an explosive Minnesota offense doesn’t do too much damage on Sunday, featuring Mitchell and the ground attack should probably be featured early and often.

Both teams kick off on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 4:25 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium.