Veteran running back Elijah Mitchell saw his tenure with the New England Patriots end this week. But it didn’t take long for Mitchell to get his next NFL opportunity.
The Athletic’s Zach Berman reported the Philadelphia Eagles invited the running back to the team’s rookie minicamp this weekend for a tryout. The Eagles have fellow veteran back Khalil Herbert at the minicamp for a tryout as well.
Mitchell gained 1,100 yards from scrimmage and scored six touchdowns as a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. Mitchell, though, has yet to eclipse the 300-yard mark since then.
From2022-24, the running back dealt with multiple injuries.
Last season, he played one game for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots released Mitchell on Tuesday.
Veteran RB Elijah Mitchell Trying Out at Eagles Rookie Minicamp
Mitchell had a surprising rookie season in 2021 with the 49ers. He rushed for 963 yards with five touchdowns and chipped in 137 yards and another score in the passing game.
At the time, it appeared he was the next surprise success in the famous Shanahan-friendly running offense. Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers drafted Mitchell at No. 194 overall in the sixth round.
But Mitchell suffered an MCL tear in one of his knees during 2022, which limited him to five games that season. From that point forward, the shine sort of wore off Mitchell with the 49ers. He only dressed for 11 contests in the 2023 season.
Across 2022 and 2023, Mitchell had just 120 rushing attempts. Despite averaging 4.7 yards per carry, he only received about eight touches per game.
Then in 2024, Mitchell sustained a season-ending hamstring injury during the preseason. He missed all of that campaign.
Last season, he spent most of the campaign on the Chiefs and Patriots practice squads. New England signed him to a futures deal after the Super Bowl. Following the draft, though, the Patriots cleared roster space with his release.
Mitchell is trying to make the Eagles roster after only playing in one NFL game the past two seasons.
Khalil Herbert Also Trying Out for Eagles
Another 28-year-old running back is joining Mitchell at Philadelphia’s rookie minicamp — Herbert. Also like Mitchell, Herbert began his career as a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
With the Chicago Bears from 2021-24, Herbert posted 1,791 rushing yards while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He also had 45 receptions for 291 yards and 11 total touchdowns.
At the 2024 NFL trade deadline, the Bears traded Herbert to the Cincinnati Bengals. In free agency last year, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Herbert didn’t make the Colts, but he joined the Seattle Seahawks practice squad in September.
After a short Seahawks stint, Herbert went to the New York Jets, where he played in seven games. Herbert rushed for 52 yards on 16 carries in New York
After the 2026 NFL Draft, the Eagles have five running backs on their roster. Saquon Barkley returns as the team’s starter in the backfield. Philadelphia also has Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley and free agent signings Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele on the roster.
Both Mitchell and Herbert could provide additional quality depth and experience to Philadelphia’s running back group.
Eagles Invite Recently Cut Former 1,000-Yard RB in for Tryout