49ers injury update: Elijah Mitchell returns; Christian McCaffrey ‘DNP’
San Francisco 49ers injury update for Week 18 after Thursday’s practice
The San Francisco 49ers had some mixed news on the running back front.
An ankle injury kept running back Christian McCaffrey out of practice again on Thursday, leading to worries he may miss San Francisco’s Week 18 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
However, Elijah Mitchell returned to practice this week and may get on the field Sunday.
McCaffrey racked up a combined nearly 200 yards in the team’s Week 17 OT victory over the Raiders. He rushed for 121 yards on 19 carries, scoring a TD in the process, and added 72 more on six receptions.
While head coach Kyle Shanahan called it a mild injury, we won’t know more until Friday’s practice.
The Mitchell update gave little something positive at least. He’s expected to be activated from the injured list.
Shanahan said in a radio appearance with KNBR’s Tolbert & Copes on Thursday (via 49ersWebZone):
"“He’s had a great week of practice. He looked real good today, and I’ll talk to him here over Friday and Saturday, but right now, I’m expecting to get him up, and I expect to play him a little bit here on Sunday.”"
Mitchell has been battling knee injuries all year and hasn’t played since Week 12. He has just 224 yards on 40 attempts.
In any case, the 49ers’ rushing situation appears a bit dicey at the moment.
Rookies Jordan Mason and Tyrion Davis-Price will likely see the bulk of the action as the 49ers try to wrap up the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Mason has 35 carries for 230 yards on the year.
Davis-Price has just 26 carries for the season for 72 yards, including one for 5 yards against the Raiders.
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San Francisco can lock up the No. 1 seed in the conference with a win Sunday and the Eagles defeating the Giants.
The 49ers host the Cardinals at 1:25 p.m. PT.