49ers' former starter has likely played his last snap for the team after grimly predictable news

Elijah Mitchell once looked as if he was going to prove to be a huge draft steal for the San Francisco 49ers.

Mitchell led the 49ers in rushing as a rookie in 2021, finishing 37 yards shy of 1,000 as he rushed for 963 in just 11 games. Had he stayed healthy for the entire season, Mitchell would have easily surpassed 1,000.

Since that year, Mitchell's career has been defined by injuries. Over the last two seasons, Mitchell has played in 16 games, starting only two. His lack of durability and the arrival of Christian McCaffrey midway through the 2022 season served to end Mitchell's hopes of being the long-term starter in the backfield.

Though Mitchell scored the touchdown that ultimately punched the 49ers' ticket to the Super Bowl last season, he will have no influence on their 2024 fortunes.

Mitchell's 2024 campaign took a grimly predictable turn on roster cutdown day on Tuesday, ending before it even had a chance to begin as he was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

The sixth-round pick out of Louisiana returned to practice last week having dealt with a hamstring strain.

While the nature of the injury that led to this development has yet to be revealed, the loss of Mitchell for the entire season will almost certainly mean he has played his last snap for the 49ers.

Mitchell is an unrestricted free agent next offseason and, with Jordan Mason making strides in this year's training camp as McCaffrey's primary backup and the 49ers trading up for Isaac Guerendo in this year's draft, the chances of San Francisco re-signing a player with Mitchell's injury history are very low.

There have been plenty of highlights for Mitchell in the regular season and playoffs despite his injuries, but his time with the 49ers promised so much more. Now it is set to come to a sad and unsurprising end.

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