Christian McCaffrey, the outstanding running back for the San Francisco 49ers, has been moved to injured reserve due to ongoing issues with calf discomfort and Achilles tendinitis, distinguished sources have revealed. This implies that McCaffrey’s presence on the field will be notably absent for a minimum of the imminent four games, including an imminent clash against the Minnesota Vikings.
While the talented player could potentially make a comeback for the October 10 game versus the Seattle Seahawks on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ this remains uncertain. Friday marked the first time that 49ers’ coach, Kyle Shanahan, publicly conceded the very real possibility of McCaffrey’s move to injured reserve since the initial news broke about the player’s injury in early August.
This announcement came in the wake of McCaffrey’s Achilles proving unresponsive to limited practice participation, which exacerbated the situation. ‘Yesterday was a challenging day,’ commented Shanahan, hinting at the sporadic nature of McCaffrey’s discomfort, with the player having to endure intense pain.
In-depth consultations concluded with Saturday’s decision to bench McCaffrey, a move that hopes to provide an opportunity for the Achilles to heal, thereby preventing recurrent flare-ups. Coach Shanahan has characterized the unpredictability of McCaffrey’s injury as the most challenging aspect, with the player experiencing good days that allow for limited practice, interspersed with painful spells.
McCaffrey’s transition to the injured reserve list is undoubtedly a setback for the player, especially coming off a spectacular season where he was crowned the NFL’s current Offensive Player of the Year. Earlier in the week, McCaffrey had expressed his intent to participate in the game against the Vikings, dispelling the idea of sideline time even in light of an injury.
‘Not being on the field detracts from the game for me,’ McCaffrey exclaimed on Wednesday. He views this situation as a strategic step, a calculated decision resembling a chess move that could prove beneficial for the rest of the season.
McCaffrey, who moved to the 49ers as part of a trade deal in October 2022, is no stranger to the injured reserve list. Postseason included, McCaffrey sat out just one of the 33 possible matches over the course of the past two seasons. The lone game he missed happened to be against the Los Angeles Rams in the final week, where the running back’s calf injury coincided with the resting of starters, rendering the game inconsequential.
However, before his journey with the 49ers, McCaffrey had his fair share of injuries during his time with the Carolina Panthers. In his 2020 and 2021 seasons, a collection of various injuries resulted in McCaffrey missing games. His injuries ranged from a high ankle sprain on his right side, an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, a residual strain affecting his hamstring and glute, to another ankle sprain, this time impacting his left side.
With McCaffrey out of contention, the primary running back responsibilities fall to Jordan Mason, who recently marked the commencement of his career with an impressive start last week against the New York Jets. Mason dazzled with a career-high of 28 carries, amassing an impressive 147 yards and culminating in a touchdown.
His performance notched the highest number of carries in a regular-season game by a Niners player since Shanahan assumed the helm in 2017. In fact, he has set the record for most carries in a season opener in the history of the 49ers franchise.
The game with the Jets saw the deployment of wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. as Mason’s principal backup, resulting in eight carries for 23 yards and a touchdown. Further options for the running back position to augment the 49ers roster while McCaffrey recovers include the likes of newcomer Isaac Guerendo and fourth-season veteran Patrick Taylor Jr., alongside the budding Ke’Shawn Vaughn who forms part of the practice squad.