Christian McCaffrey RB SF (14) Fri 9/13/24 5:06 PM
Christian McCaffrey
RB SF (14)
McCaffrey has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Minnesota, and the 49ers are considering placing him on injured reserve, which would sideline him through at least Week 5, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Jordan Mason enjoyed a breakout performance Week 1 against the Jets, taking 29 touches for 152 yards and a touchdown on 81 percent snap share, with wide receiver Deebo Samuel also picking up some of the backfield slack and tying his career high of eight carries. It sounds like that scenario could continue for several weeks, as coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Friday that Thursday was McCaffrey's worst day so far in terms of pain, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. It's been a rapid downward slide for McCaffrey and his fantasy managers, after most reports last week suggested he was on track to play in the season opener. He'll now miss a second straight game, at the very least.
Christian McCaffrey RB SF (14) Fri 9/13/24 3:53 PM
Christian McCaffrey
RB SF (14)
McCaffrey (Achilles) is not present at the portion of Friday's practice open to the media, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
McCaffrey logged limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday, but it appears his activity level may be in line to regress Friday. 49ers GM John Lynch said Friday morning that he was uncertain whether McCaffrey would be cleared to suit up Sunday against Minnesota on the road, and head coach Kyle Shanahan will address the media later this afternoon. Jordan Mason enjoyed a breakout performance Week 1 with McCaffrey sidelined, while wide receiver Deebo Samuel also was tasked to handle extra backfield slack and logged eight carries.
Christian McCaffrey RB SF (14) Fri 9/13/24 11:18 AM
Christian McCaffrey
RB SF (14)
49ers GM John Lynch said Friday morning that he doesn't know if McCaffrey (Achilles) will play Sunday at the Vikings, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
EDGE Analysis
"Dealing with Achilles tendinitis, [it] could be good one day and then it flares," Lynch said. "Been frustrating. We're thinking in long view. We need Christian healthy, fully out there and don't want to compromise anything." Lynch's comments suggest McCaffrey is headed for another questionable designation, after being listed that way last week and ultimately missing Monday's win over the Jets. Jordan Mason filled in with 28 carries for 147 yards and a TD on an 81 percent snap share in the 32-19 victory, with WR Deebo Samuel also getting some snaps as a running back and matching his career high of eight carries.
Christian McCaffrey RB SF (14) Thu 9/12/24 6:58 PM
Christian McCaffrey
RB SF (14)
McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) remained limited at Thursday's practice, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
EDGE Analysis
The waiting game continues for McCaffrey after he sat out Monday's win against the Jets due to a strained calf and Achilles tendinitis. The 49ers are more concerned about the second injury, but McCaffrey has looked like himself during the parts of recent practices open to the media. Still, even if he gets back to all activity Friday, McCaffrey seems like a good bet to enter the weekend with a designation for Sunday's game in Minnesota. If McCaffrey is inhibited or sidelined in that contest, Jordan Mason again would get the call at running back for the 49ers, with wide receiver Deebo Samuel also mixing in.
Christian McCaffrey RB SF (14) Thu 9/12/24 4:20 PM
Christian McCaffrey
RB SF (14)
McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) is in uniform and expected to participate in Thursday's practice, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
EDGE Analysis
After practicing in a limited fashion Wednesday, McCaffrey looks poised to take reps for the second day in a row, but the extent of his participation won't be known until the 49ers release their second Week 2 injury report later Thursday. Inman notes that 49ers players aren't wearing full pads for Thursday's session, so McCaffrey may not be taking contact even if he increases his activity from Wednesday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier this week that McCaffrey was viewed as a long shot to play Sunday versus the Vikings, but the 49ers aren't yet ruling him out from being available in some capacity.
Christian McCaffrey RB SF (14) Wed 9/11/24 3:54 PM
Christian McCaffrey
RB SF (14)
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) will be a limited practice participant Wednesday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
EDGE Analysis
Shanahan also noted that placing McCaffrey on injured reserve hasn't been considered because the running back was close to playing Week 1 against the Jets, per David Lombardi of The Athletic. While a strained calf has affected McCaffrey since early August, Achilles tendinitis is the main hindrance for him at the moment. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier Wednesday that McCaffrey seems like a long shot to suit up this Sunday at Minnesota, so if that comes to pass, the 49ers again will roll with Jordan Mason as their lead option out of the backfield.
Christian McCaffrey RB SF (14) Wed 9/11/24 9:32 AM
Christian McCaffrey
RB SF (14)
McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) appears to be a long shot to play Sunday against the Vikings, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
EDGE Analysis
Citing those familiar with the running back's injury, Rapoport suggests that the 49ers are leaning toward holding McCaffrey out for another week while he manages Achilles tendinitis in addition to a calf strain that dates back to early August. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan intimated Tuesday that the Achilles issue is the greater concern for McCaffrey at this time and is requiring more treatment than the pulled calf. Though McCaffrey could still practice in some fashion this week and perhaps even take a questionable designation into Sunday, Jordan Mason looks to be the early favorite to receive another turn as the 49ers' lead back. Mason turned 29 touches into 152 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown while McCaffrey sat out Monday's 32-19 win over the Jets, with wideout Deebo Samuel (eight carries) essentially serving as the No. 2 back.
Christian McCaffrey RB SF (14) Tue 9/10/24 2:27 PM
Christian McCaffrey
RB SF (14)
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan labeled McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) as day-to-day heading into Sunday's game against the Vikings, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Though McCaffrey was listed as questionable for the 49ers' Week 1 game against the Jets on Monday, multiple reports prior to the contest suggested that the star tailback would play before he ended up being a surprise inactive. According to Clayton Holloway of NFL Network, Shanahan said that he believes McCaffrey would have suited up if the 49ers were playing a playoff game, but he sat out the Week 1 contest to afford himself more time to heal up from the lower leg injury that he's been tending to for more than a month. Shanahan noted that Achilles tendinitis rather than the calf strain is the main concern for McCaffrey at this time, so the 49ers will wait and see how the 28-year-old responds to practice activity this week before a decision on his status is made for Sunday's game.
Christian McCaffrey RB SF (14) Mon 9/9/24 6:56 PM
Christian McCaffrey
RB SF (14)
McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) is listed as inactive Monday against the Jets, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
EDGE Analysis
San Francisco thus won't have McCaffrey for Week 1 as a result of the calf/Achilles injury that he's dealt with since early August. In McCaffrey's stead, the team will turn to Jordan Mason out of the backfield, with Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor on hand for any reps that linger. McCaffrey will turn his focus to being available Sunday at Minnesota.
Christian McCaffrey RB SF (14) Mon 9/9/24 6:53 PM
Christian McCaffrey
RB SF (14)
McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) is in line to be inactive Monday against the Jets, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
In a surprise turn of events, the 49ers won't have McCaffrey available due to the combined calf/Achilles injury that he's tended to since early August. Jordan Mason thus should serve as the team's top running back Week 1.