In the wake of last week's 2026 NFL Draft, many veteran players around the league have been released from rosters to make room for incoming rookies, and that list now includes former Kansas City Chiefs running back Elijah Mitchell, who was let go by the New England Patriots on Tuesday.
Signed to New England's practice squad just a few days after being released by Kansas City this past December, the soon-to-be 28-year-old (his birthday is May 2) was let go ahead of the Pats' Divisional Round matchup against the Houston Texans but was brought back to Foxborough on a reserve/futures contract just a few days after the AFC champs took a 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60.
With Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson already on the roster, the Patriots picked up Alabama running back Jam Miller in Round 7 of the draft this past Saturday with the 245th overall selection, and that was apparently enough for New England to feel fine with cutting ties with Mitchell, who now has to once again go looking for a place to reset his career.
Elijah Mitchell has gone downhill since a solid rookie season in 2021
A sixth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, the Louisiana alum had a solid rookie campaign, tallying 963 rushing yards and five touchdowns while adding another 137 yards and a score on 19 receptions.
But it's been all downhill from there.
MCL issues hindered his 2022 season, and it certainly didn't help that the Niners went out that year and acquired Christian McCaffrey, which obviously knocked Mitchell down the depth chart. After posting just 581 total yards from scrimmage between the '22 and '23 campaigns, he missed the entire 2024 season with a hamstring injury.
Mitchell signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs ahead of the 2025 season, but he wasn't given any real opportunity to shine. After receiving a few touches during the preseason, he sat out Kansas City's first nine regular-season outings before finally suiting up after the Week 10 bye for the team's road matchup with the rival Denver Broncos in Week 11.
But putting on his uniform took longer than the time he got on the field, as he took just seven snaps and failed to record a touch. He was given zero rushing attempts in the six snaps he took in the backfield, and on the one play in which he lined up in the slot and was targeted as a receiver, Patrick Mahomes threw an interception. And that was literally the extent of Mitchell's regular-season career in Kansas City.
The Chiefs, of course, have an all-new running back room for 2026. After signing reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and Emari Demercado in free agency, they went out and drafted Nebraska's Emmett Johnson in Round 5 at No. 161 overall.
So, if Mitchell were to re-sign in Kansas City, one would have to assume that it would be with the practice squad. And no matter the franchise, the practice squad may be his only option right now.
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