Mitchell, Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt got first-team snaps Thursday, along with a "sprinkling" of rookie Brashard Smith, according to Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com.

EDGE Analysis

It can perhaps be taken as a good sign for Mitchell that he's getting first-team reps, which might instead be cornered by Pacheco and Hunt. Mitchell has a one-year, $2.5 million contract that includes $1.35 million guaranteed, while Hunt has a one-year, $1.5 million deal with $850,000 guaranteed. Pacheco is presumably a lock to make the roster, but everything else is up for grabs in the Kansas City backfield between Hunt, Mitchell, Smith and UDFA Elijah Young. For Mitchell, the biggest challenge is staying healthy, as he played just 16 games over his final three seasons in San Francisco after running for 963 yards as a rookie in 2021. He's apparently made a full recovery from the torn hamstring that put him on injured reserve for all of last season, coming back healthy with a new team and a real shot to compete for touches.

The Chiefs are in line to sign Mitchell (hamstring) to a one-year contract worth up to $3.5 million, Tommy Call III of USA Today reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mitchell missed his entire 2024 campaign with San Francisco after undergoing hamstring surgery last August, but he projects to be ready for the start of offseason activities with his new club. Across four years with the 49ers, the oft-injured Mitchell managed to suit up for only 27 of a possible 68 regular-season games, but he now finds an intriguing landing spot with a solid potential ceiling, should he manage to stay healthy and put his trademark speed to use. Kareem Hunt is a pending unrestricted free agent for the Chiefs, but Isiah Pacheco has one year remaining on his rookie deal, leaving Mitchell in likely position to handle a depth role.

Mitchell will have surgery on his hamstring after being placed on injured reserve Tuesday, ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner reports.

EDGE Analysis

Out for most of the summer with a hamstring injury, Mitchell returned to practice Aug. 21 but then suffered a more serious hamstring injury not long thereafter. He's now out for the season and scheduled for surgery, leaving Jordan Mason as the presumed No. 2 running back ahead of a Week 1 matchup with the Jets. The 49ers hope to get Christian McCaffrey (calf) back in practice soon, and they're backfield depth suddenly looks shaky with Isaac Guerendo bothered by a groin injury and Cody Schrader claimed off waivers by the division-rival Rams. Mason and Patrick Taylor are the only fully healthy RBs on the roster or practice squad.

The 49ers placed Mitchell (undisclosed) on injured reserve Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Mitchell kicked off August with a strained hamstring that sidelined him for a good portion of training camp and the entire preseason slate, but he returned to practice last Wednesday, signaling he was making progress in his recovery. It's unclear if the aforementioned health concern precipitated this move, but he'll nonetheless miss the entire season. With Mitchell on IR, Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor will be the reserve running backs behind Christian McCaffrey (calf) to begin the campaign.

Mitchell isn't in line to play in Friday's preseason game in Las Vegas, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

A strained hamstring sidelined Mitchell for the first two exhibitions, and even though he returned to practice Wednesday, the 49ers will opt to keep him in street clothes two days later. He'll thus turn his focus to Week 1, when he's expected to serve as the primary backup to All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey (calf). In 27 regular-season games in his three-year career, Mitchell has averaged 4.7 YPC while scoring 10 total touchdowns.

Mitchell (hamstring) resumed practicing Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mitchell has been sidelined due to a strained hamstring since Aug. 6, but he's managed to resume practicing ahead of San Francisco's preseason finale against the Raiders on Friday. The 49ers could still opt to hold Mitchell out of exhibition action, but he looks ready to suit up Week 1 versus the Jets. Meanwhile, while Christian McCaffrey (calf) continues to work his way back, Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) and Jordan Mason (hip) both also resumed practicing this week.

Mitchell (hamstring) is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason opener, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 49ers have a numbered of injured running backs also not playing Saturday, including Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Isaac Guerendo, but it doesn't seem as if backup Jordan Mason will see extensive snaps. As a result, Cody Schrader, Matt Breida and Patrick Taylor could see plenty of opportunities.

Coach Kyle Shanahan relayed Tuesday that Mitchell is dealing with a strained hamstring, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey has a calf strain that figures to sideline him a couple of weeks and Isaac Guerendo has been slowed by a hamstring issue. To bolster their backfield depth amidst the injuries, the 49ers have added Matt Breida to the mix. Once Mitchell returns to the field, he'll look to cement his standing as McCaffrey 's top backup.

Jordan Mason may challenge Mitchell for the No. 2 RB role, Jordan Elliott of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mitchell was still viewed as the clear No. 2 running back as recently as minicamp in June, but Mason's continued development may be complicating things. San Francisco's strong backfield depth behind Christian McCaffrey could even make Mitchell a trade target heading into the final year of his rookie contract, although the 49ers would probably feel better about that if fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo was practicing rather than nursing a hamstring injury. Mitchell still makes sense as a late-round pick in fantasy drafts, as it's hard to know if the camp hype surrounding Mason really matters relative to Mitchell's solid track record when tasked with a lead role. There's even potential for Mitchell's value to rise considerably between now and Week 1, either via a trade or a McCaffrey injury.

Mitchell remains the clear No. 2 running back for San Francisco, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lombardi notes that the Niners have a history of trading backup running backs (Matt Breida, Jeff Wilson) when they're happy with their depth at the position. That could be an option this summer, though it's not necessarily likely, with Mitchell in the final year of his contract and a pair of rookies (fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo, UDFA Cody Schrader) getting work at minicamp. The 49ers also have returning veteran Jordan Mason, but he's mostly played special teams and has never managed to move above Mitchell on the depth chart when Mitchell's been healthy. The long-term plan probably entails Guerendo taking over as the No. 2 RB behind Christian McCaffrey, but Mitchell looks on track to handle the role again this season.