In Week 1 against the Jets, Christian McCaffrey will probably be available for the 49ers, however an injury could limit him.
Throughout training camp and the preseason, the San Francisco 49ers faced numerous noteworthy injuries, but few attracted as much attention as All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.
Having suffered a calf injury soon before camp started, McCaffrey missed all three of the Niners’ exhibition games and was out for the preseason.
At the time, head coach Kyle Shanahan explained to reporters that the move was preventative and that the intention was to save the current Offensive Player of the Year for crucial situations.
That moment is now, as San Francisco prepares to host the New York Jets in its home opener on Monday Night Football in 2024.
But McCaffrey’s availability hasn’t been entirely clear.
49ers will practice limiting Christian McCaffrey; the Jets game will determine his status.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, McCaffrey is expected to participate in the 49ers’ prime-time home opener.
In an interview with reporters on Thursday, Shanahan said that his top running back, McCaffrey, will have a calf/hamstring ailment that will be listed on the team’s official injury report. The coach also stated that McCaffrey would be limited in practice.
It’s nothing new, and McCaffrey’s availability shouldn’t be seriously jeopardized by the classification.
However, it does imply that Shanahan would restrict McCaffrey’s touches in Week 1, particularly given how little the tailback practiced leading up to the regular season. Furthermore, the Jets have a strong defense, which emphasizes how crucial it is to keep McCaffrey healthy.
Therefore, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Shanahan use his second group of running backs, which includes rookie Isaac Guerendo and third-year pro Jordan Mason, in an effort to prevent McCaffrey from making his injury worse after suffering it for a large portion of the summer.
Monday, September 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium will see the Niners take on the Jets. On Saturday, September 7, McCaffrey’s official number will be disclosed.
