The 49ers enjoyed themselves Thursday night. Players looked happy as they celebrated touchdowns and big plays and the discovery of Nick Mullens, who washed away – for one night, at least – the woes of this season with an amazing NFL debut at quarterback.
But in the wake of the feel-good 34-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders that produced the team’s second win of 2018 is the fact the 49ers lost another running back.
Raheem Mostert, who’d climbed into the backfield rotation after injuries to Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida, was having a terrific game against the Raiders, breaking lose on a 52-yard touchdown run while rushing for 86 yards on just seven carries.
But on his final carry, Mostert suffered a gruesome injury to his right forearm, which was broken and bent as he went to the ground on a tackle. Mostert had to be escorted off the field.
Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan after the game said he assumes Mostert will be lost for the rest of the season.
It’s a tough outcome for Mostert, a second-year pro out of Purdue, who was showing what he could do in the NFL with the opportunity he received this year. He had 261 yards rushing on 34 carries, a 7.7-yard average, along with 25 catches.
Breida has been playing through injury and will continue to be the team’s No. 1 back, but the 49ers will need to sign a new back or promote one from the practice squad this week.
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Mostert also had been one of the team’s best special teams players. Earlier this season, Shanahan said Mostert had rebounded from a game against the Cardinals in which he had lost a fumble. Shanahan said he had faith Mostert would prove his worth, and he did again Thursday night against the Raiders.
“I accepted the challenge,” Mostert said recently, after talking to Shanahan following the fumble against Arizona. “That’s something that I needed, and that’s something I wanted to look forward to. That’s what I did.”
Now, however, Mostert’s season is over, and the 49ers need some running back help.
The 2-7 49ers will return to action on Monday night, Nov. 12, vs. the New York Giants.
