2 min read • March 11, 2022
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Running back Raheem Mostert played in just one game last season and may have played his last snaps as a lead running back.
Returning from the left knee cartilage injury he dealt with last season is no small feat, even though Mostert and his agent insist he will make a full recovery and be ready for the start of next season.
While he was reported to have microfracture surgery, it appears he had osteochondral allograft surgery, where a fresh cadaver with live articular cartilage and underlying bone is donated and transplanted, said Dr. David Chao, ProFootballDoc.
Either way, the "chip" in his left knee was a full thickness cartilage defect, Chao said.
As we covered previously, the surgery contains a serious recovery process and could indicate the beginning of a downhill slide for the 29-year-old rusher.
In 2019, his best season with the 49ers, he displayed great ability to cut and accelerate through holes.
The trouble will be regaining the ability to cut and accelerate with that injured knee like he did previously, Chao said.
That is highly unlikely and is unfortunate because that was Mostert's true value on the field. At 5-foot-10, roughly 205 pounds he is slightly undersized for a running back and needs to rely on speed and quickness to gain yards.
It remains to be seen what market exists for Mostert, but most teams will likely be scared off upon examining his knee. The most likely landing place for him is back in San Francisco on a "prove it" deal.
His previous contract was a three-year, $8.7 million deal with the 49ers, who now have Elijah Mitchell as a much cheaper and more reliable option.
In Mostert's peak season, he had 772 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns in 16 games. In Mitchell's rookie season, he had 963 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns in 11 games.
Mostert has had an admirable eight-year career after going undrafted out of college, but his career opportunities appear to be waning after such a rigorous surgery and recovery.
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