One week in and the 49ers have already been forced to add to their running back room.
On Tuesday, the team reportedly signed former Colts starting running back Marlon Mack to their practice squad, after placing injured starting RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) on the injured reserve.
Mack, 26, was the Colts’ primary starting RB in 2019, and rushed for over 1,000 yards while averaging 4.4 per carry with eight touchdowns. Mack sustained a torn Achilles at the beginning of the 2020 season, and hasn’t been the same since. Mack was in the Texans backfield during the preseason and rushed 10 times for 55 yards vs. the 49ers. He did not make Houston’s 53-man roster.
With Mitchell going on the IR, the 49ers promoted safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. to the active roster. Gipson played in the 49ers’ Week 1 game on Sunday, and ranked as the eighth most effective safety in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus.
The 49ers also signed OL Keith Ismael to the practice squad and released OL Keaton Sutherland and WR Connor Wedington.