One of the more ironic fan messages in the stands during Sunday's game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Francisco 49ers. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the San Francisco 49ers at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, FL Sunday, November 12, 2023. The Jaguars trailed 13 to 3 at the half. © Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK.
The man simply cannot avoid injured reserve.
Former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Pat Elflein signed with the San Francisco 49ers on Friday, a late-summer roster addition as San Francisco continues to formulate a 53-man depth chart. Mere hours later, Elflein injured his calf — and is now out for the season.
The 49ers announced on Monday, “The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have signed OL Lewis Kidd to a one-year deal. In order to make room on the roster, the team placed OL Pat Elflein on the Injured Reserve List.”
Elflein has now hit injured reserve in five consecutive seasons. Because he was placed on injured reserve in the preseason, he cannot play for the 49ers this year.
The 30-year-old now hits the shelf with an unknown return timetable. In theory, San Francisco could release Elflein with an injury settlement, and thereafter, he could sign elsewhere. But it all depends on the severity of his calf injury.
The Vikings chose Elflein in Round 3 of the 2017 NFL Draft from Ohio State. And from 2017 to 2019, he played in 90 percent of all Vikings games and made the rounds positionally on the team’s offensive line.
In 2020, Elflein succumbed to a thumb injury and hit injured reserve. He healed up, but the Vikings dropped him soon after. Here’s his career resume to date:
The lineman performed quite well in 2017, even placing on Pro Football Writers Association‘s All-Rookie team. Fans were beaming about his trajectory and considered the center position all figured out for the long haul.
In 2018, however, Elflein’s production tumbled — so much so that then-general manager Rick Spielman used a 1st-Round pick on center Garrett Bradbury in the 2019 NFL Draft. That was the beginning of the end for Elflein in Minnesota, though the Vikings tried him out at guard. The plan didn’t work.
The 49ers also employ former Vikings Joshua Dobbs (QB) and T.Y. McGill (DT).
San Francisco waived lineman Briason Mays last week to make room for Elflein. After Elflein was designated an injured reserve, general manager John Lynch signed Lewis Kidd, a Minnesota native with 13 games of NFL experience.
Elflein was a teammate of Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold in Carolina.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.