Unfortunately, Raheem Mostert is dealing with another significant health issue. The 49ers’ talented but oft-injured running back has chipped cartilage in his knee, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday.
Shanahan said the knee issue will sideline Mostert for about eight weeks. He’ll have a scope on the knee and go on injured reserve for the time being. Elijah Mitchell, who became a workhorse against the Lions after Mostert went down early, figures to become the team’s new lead back in his place. Mitchell turned 19 carries into 104 yards and a touchdown against Detroit.
The injury likely also means fourth-round rookie Trey Sermon, who was a surprise inactive against the Lions, will get a crack at the first action of his pro career. Mostert was a 2015 UDFA from Purdue who spent time with six different teams in less than two seasons before finding a permanent home with the 49ers.
He signed with San Francisco’s practice squad in November of 2016, and has been with the team ever since. Impressively, he’s averaged 5.7 yards per rush on 284 career carries. Last year he had 521 yards in only eight games as he dealt with various ailments.
It’s an especially tough blow for Mostert since he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. Hopefully he can return and have a lot of success in the second half to help him cash in next spring. Mostert briefly requested a trade in the summer of 2020 before he and the team patched things up with a revised contract.
What I want to know is why was Sermon inactive and not given the chance to be the lead back. Elijah Mitchell looked good but Sermon didn’t even get a chance
Shanahan said Mitchell and Hasty outplayed Sermon in camp
The new Jordan Reed, now that Reed has retired…
This could set the table for Frank Gore to return and finish his career with 49ers.
I don’t see it with 3 healthy backs and they still have Wilson who could be back in a few weeks i believe
Really sucks and I feel for the guy but he just can’t stay healthy. His time with the team I done after this season for sure. Mitchell looked great though, has the spear and is rough, didn’t ever really take a loss of yardage I don’t think, from what I saw watching the game he always fell forward and gained yardage even if it was 1. Unless I missed a few runs but he liked great from what I saw. Hasty seems to never get a chance but I love the way he runs so hopefully he can get more of an opportunity now. Sermon honestly didn’t impress me in pre season at all. I can see him easily be the 3rd back. They got Wilson coming back around week 6 as well so even if Sermon turns out to be a bust they’ll be fine at RB. The area Thats concerning for me is CB. I sure hope Mosley is ready next game and they better have Norman active as well because there is no way Dontae Johnson can be out there again. Lions just picked on the guy over and over and he looked so lost like he had no idea where the ball was. The rookies actually looked good though. Hopefully with signing Fitzpatrick and Norman and if Mosley comes back they’ll be ok but losing Varrett is a big blow.