Mitchell or Mason? No one knows who 49ers will use if McCaffrey’s out

The biggest question mark for the 49ers entering their Monday night showdown: What will San Francisco’s running back group look like?

The 49ers seem quite thankful that they’re playing on Monday night this week, giving star running back Christian McCaffrey one extra day to rest up the oblique injury he picked up in the Week 6 loss to the Browns.

But there is still no guarantee that McCaffrey will play on Monday, and head coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t letting on which backup he’ll lean on more: Elijah Mitchell or Jordan Mason.

Entering the season, Mitchell was the clear No. 2 guy behind McCaffrey. But the oft-injured former sixth-round pick out of Louisiana missed weeks 4 and 5 with a knee injury and didn’t practice much prior to the Cleveland game, though he did play.

After McCaffrey left the game in the first half — then tried to return in the second half but left again after one play and was ultimately ruled out — the 49ers went with Mason more heavily than Mitchell, with Mason getting 15 snaps to Mitchell’s seven.

After the game in Cleveland, Shanahan was asked about going more heavily with Mason (who he calls JP) and chalked it up to Mitchell’s slow recovery.

“Elijah came back and practiced late last week on Thursday,” Shanahan said. “So he got really one true day of practice in and that’s why JP got the first nod once Christian came out. But we’ve got two really good players there.”

And while Mitchell has more snaps on the whole this season (45 to Mason’s 40, according to Footballguys), Mason has received more carries than Mitchell — and, at least statistically, has just been better. Mason has 21 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns (including one against the Browns), while Mitchell has 18 rushes for 49 yards and no touchdowns.

Mason has been a special teams contributor since he made the team as an undrafted free agent last season and has played in 22 of 23 possible games so far. He’s only had 64 career carries, but he’s looked sharp on those attempts, averaging 5.9 yards a rush.

Still, since he came to the 49ers in 2021, Mitchell has been a solid runner for the 49ers on a larger volume, averaging 4.8 yards per carry across the 270 carries. But the biggest concern for him: That’s come in just 19 games in two-plus years. 

“I think Elijah, when he has been healthy, has been as good of a back as there is. He’s just had a hard time staying healthy,” Shanahan said on Monday. “But I also can’t take away anything from JP. I mean every time JP’s got his opportunities, you guys see how he’s done. So both of those guys have done very well.”

Niners general manager John Lynch also discussed the duo in his weekly interview with KNBR’s “Murph and Mac” morning show on Friday. Lynch had high praise for both of them, though he also had a health caveat for Mitchell.

On Mason: “He’s been playing at a really, really high level and you’re seeing that improved player. [He] runs with a physicality. The first guy never seems to bring them down, [and] if he does, JP’s carrying them for 3, 4 yards. He’s secure with the ball.”

On Mitchell: “Elijah has always been a really good player. He’s got a mix of physicality and speed, has improved in the pass game. Elijah’s challenge has always just been staying on the field and staying healthy. I can tell you he’s looking really good.”

But, if it isn’t obvious, the preferred answer to “Mitchell or Mason” for the 49ers is: neither.

“Hopefully Christian will be good to go this week,” Shanahan said on Monday. “But if not, we’ve got a group of backs that we can rely on.”