49ers Rumors: Marlon Mack Signs Practice Squad Contract After Eli Mitchell's Injury

The San Francisco 49ers are in need of some running back depth after losing Elijah Mitchell to an MCL sprain, and they reportedly turned to a veteran.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the 49ers signed former Houston Texans running back Marlon Mack to their practice squad on Tuesday.

Mitchell is expected to miss the next two months, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced on Monday. He suffered the injury in the first half of Sunday's 19-10 loss to the Chicago Bears and didn't return to the game. It's the second straight year that he has injured his knee in the season opener.

Mack was signed by the Texans in April, but the team released him in September. He spent the first five years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, who drafted him with a fourth-round pick in 2017.

The 26-year-old appeared in six games in 2021 and rushed for 101 yards with no touchdowns. He suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1 of the previous season that might have still affected him last year.

Mack enjoyed the best season of his career in 2019, rushing for a career-high 1,091 yards in 14 games while adding eight touchdowns on 247 carries. If he's able to stay healthy, he could earn a promotion from San Francisco's practice squad.

Fifth-year speedster Jeff Wilson Jr. will assume the lead back duties for the 49ers. However, his backups are rookies Jordan Mason and Tyrion Davis-Price. Adding an experienced running back like Mack could help improve the team's depth.

San Francisco will go for its first win of the season when it hosts the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.