McCaffrey (Achilles), who is officially questionable for Sunday's Week 10 game against Tampa Bay, is expected to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCaffrey is set to make his season debut after sitting out San Francisco's first eight games due to Achilles tendinitis. It remains to be seen how much of a workload he'll take on, but the All-Pro running back is expected to start, and the 49ers believe he could have played last week, per Schefter. McCaffrey's return should be a big boost to fantasy managers who invested substantial capital in the star ball carrier in drafts this season, and it will also result in Jordan Mason -- who ranks fourth in the NFL with 685 rushing yards -- shifting to a backup role.

McCaffrey (Achilles) was activated off injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

This was a procedural move considering McCaffrey was already confirmed to play in Sunday's contest earlier this week. The All-Pro running back is expected to be immediately inserted into the lineup, although the exact playing time split appears to be undetermined. Both head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have been coy about McCaffrey's usage, and it doesn't seem as if fantasy managers will have any resolution to the question until after the Week 10 contest against the Buccaneers.

McCaffrey (Achilles) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, with coach Kyle Shanahan saying Friday that the running back will play, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 49ers will need to activate him from injured reserve by 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday if he's indeed going to make his season debut this Sunday. Shanahan said Thursday that he expected McCaffrey to play, then reaffirming the plan after Friday's practice. McCaffrey may not jump right back into his accustomed every-down role, but even somewhat lesser usage could be enough to produce a big stat line against Tampa Bay's struggling defense.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that he expects McCaffrey (Achilles) to make his season debut Sunday at Tampa Bay, David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard reports.

EDGE Analysis

Since the 49ers designated him for return from injured reserve Monday, McCaffrey has been contained to two limited practices, likely to ease him back into things after not having practiced since Week 1 prep due to Achilles tendinitis. Shanahan noted Wednesday that McCaffrey has had "no pain" in either of his Achilles recently, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, so even if he doesn't get in a full practice Friday and is listed with a designation for Week 10, the running back should be activated from IR by Saturday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline, at the latest. Assuming that comes to pass, McCaffrey will take over the lead in San Francisco's backfield from Jordan Mason (shoulder).

McCaffrey (Achilles) was limited at Thursday's practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Following the 49ers' Week 9 bye, the 49ers designated McCaffrey for return from injured reserve Monday, and he's proceeded to log back-to-back capped sessions. Coach Kyle Shanahan relayed to Adam Schefter of ESPN on Wednesday that McCaffrey has experienced "no pain" in either of his Achilles, so the team likely is just easing the running back in this week. Ultimately, Friday's practice report will unveil whether McCaffrey is cleared ahead of the weekend or 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, assuming he's able to make his season debut.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey will be limited at Wednesday's practice, but the running back has exhibited "no pain" with his Achilles, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 49ers designated McCaffrey for return from injured reserve Monday following their Week 9 bye, opening a 21-day window in which to get back on the active roster. The team has been circling this Sunday's game at Tampa Bay as his likely season debut, but he may need to cap this week with a full practice in order to go into the weekend without a designation.

The 49ers designated McCaffrey (Achilles) to return from injured reserve Monday.

EDGE Analysis

The move officially opens McCaffrey's 21-day practice window, and he's expected to be on the field Monday. Coach Kyle Shanahan has long pointed at Week 10 as a potential return date for the 49ers' star running back, and this is the first step in that process. As long as all goes well in practice this week, McCaffrey has a real chance to be in the lineup for his 2024 debut next Sunday against the Bucs.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that McCaffrey (Achilles) will remain in the Bay Area during the 49ers' Week 9 bye to take part in "simulated practice stuff," Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports. "It depends how this week goes," Shanahan said, when asked if McCaffrey will be available to make his season debut Week 10 at Tampa Bay. "He's had no setbacks, so it looks like we're on track, but he's going to hit it hard this week while we're gone...as long as it all goes good, hopefully we'll get him back in practice next week."

EDGE Analysis

McCaffrey has been sidelined all season after tweaking his calf Aug. 6 and then battling Achilles tendinitis in both of his legs, with the latter injury being the greater concern at this time. The 28-year-old seems to have made strong progress over the past few weeks, and he'll take another step forward when he gets in some on-field work during the 49ers' bye week. Since his activity during the upcoming week won't count as official practice time, the 49ers will wait until next Monday to possibly (or likely) designate him for return from injured reserve, which will open up a 21-day evaluation window. The 49ers will then release their first Week 10 injury report next Wednesday, when it will be known whether McCaffrey is practicing on a limited basis or without restrictions. Assuming McCaffrey is able to ramp up over the next two weeks with no setbacks, he should be ready to suit up against the Buccaneers, though the 49ers may not be keen on giving him a full workload in what would be his first game since Super Bowl LVIII last February.

McCaffrey (Achilles) is on track to participate in a "bonus" practice that the 49ers have scheduled during their Week 9 bye, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though the extent of his practice activity won't be known until the 49ers release their next injury report Wednesday, Nov. 6, McCaffrey's expected involvement in on-field drills during the bye week bodes well for his chances of making his season debut during the 49ers' Week 10 game Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay. McCaffrey sat out the entire preseason with a calf strain before being diagnosed with bilateral Achilles tendinitis in September. He made a visit to Germany just over a month ago to meet with a specialist regarding the injury, and McCaffrey has seemingly made good progress in his recovery ever since. If McCaffrey is in fact cleared to play coming out of the Week 9 bye, he could be eased back in with a lighter snap count Week 10 against the Buccaneers rather than immediately reclaiming a three-down workhorse role.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that McCaffrey (Achilles) is unlikely to practice this week, but the 49ers are hopeful the running back will be able to return after their Week 9 bye on Sunday, Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shanahan added that he'd be "surprised" if McCaffrey is able to play Sunday against the Cowboys, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. The 49ers can designate McCaffrey to return from injured reserve at any point, which would allow him to get back on the practice field and give San Francisco 21 days in which to activate him. With McCaffrey still sidelined, though, Jordan Mason will continue to operate as the 49ers' lead running back.