Julia Stumbaugh September 10, 2024
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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan says he thinks star running back Christian McCaffrey would have played through his calf/Achilles injury on Monday had the game been a playoff contest.
“I definitely believe if it was a playoff game he would have played,” Shanahan said, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The reigning Offensive Player of the Year was listed as inactive for Monday’s season-opening 32-19 win over the New York Jets. His absence was due to a calf and Achilles injury, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.
Nick Wagoner @nwagoner
#49ers RB Christian McCaffrey will again be day to day this week with his calf/Achilles issue, per Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan noted that Achilles tendonitis has been primary issue with McCaffrey and it comes and goes in severity.
Shanahan has previously said McCaffrey’s injury is “similar” to the calf strain the running back suffered in Week 17 of the 2023 campaign, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. After sitting out Week 18 last season, McCaffrey rejoined the 49ers for the playoffs.
The 49ers first reported McCaffrey’s injury on August 6, when Shanahan told reporters on Aug. 6 the running back was likely to miss the preseason with a calf strain. That injury was later detailed as a calf/Achilles issue on the team’s injury report.
McCaffrey said on Friday that his injury was “not a concern with me,” and that he expected to play against the Jets despite being limited in practice during the week leading up to the season opener.
The running back was then added to the inactive list under two hours before the 49ers’ season opener.
“It’s been lingering the last few weeks,” Shanahan told reporters about McCaffrey’s injury following Monday’s win. “But it’s getting better and better and hopefully it’ll be better next week.”
McCaffrey led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards while adding 564 receiving yards and 21 total touchdowns in 2023. His long-term health will be key to the 49ers’ hopes of earning redemption from last season’s Super Bowl loss, so San Francisco appears to be exercising caution with his recovery timeline.
If McCaffrey remains sidelined for Sunday’s Week 2 contest against the Minnesota Vikings, third-year back Jordan Mason could be called on to step up in his absence. Mason led all San Francisco pass rushers with 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown in Monday’s season-opening win.
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