After missing three weeks with a knee injury, 49ers rookie running back Elijah Mitchell picked up right where he left off in his first game back against the Houston Texans. Mitchell made the 49ers offense once again look whole as he dominated the run game averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
Mitchell, just as he has done all season when healthy, played an instrumental role in the 49ers' 23-7 victory over the Texans. The rookie ran for 119 yards on 21 carries and was a perfect two for two on both of his targets from Trey Lance that amounted to 11 yards and a touchdown.
Mitchells touchdown came in the third quarter when the 49ers needed it most. Down 7-3 on the Texans 8-yard line, Lance rolled out of the pocket to his right to find Mitchell with open field in front of him. The two connected and gave the 49ers a lead that they would not relinquish.
Yessssirr @EliMitch15 for the score 🙌#HOUvsSF on CBS/49ers App pic.twitter.com/mlurEvgaXL
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 2, 2022
Putting an exclamation point on his return to the field, Mitchell, playing just 10 games this year, broke the 49ers single-season franchise record for rushing yards by a rookie. Previously held by Vic Washington, Mitchell ended his Sunday with 878 rushing yards, breaking Washington's record (811 yards) by 67 yards in 4 less games.
San Francisco will play in Los Angeles this coming Sunday against the Rams in a game that will play a big role in determining their season's fate. If the offense can click like it did against the Texans and Mitchell can once again put on a show, the 49ers should have a shot at beating this talented Rams team on their own field.
