49ers RB Christian McCaffrey travels to Germany for Achilles injury care

San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey has traveled to Germany to meet with a specialist regarding his ongoing Achilles tendinitis issues. This condition has persisted since early in training camp, prompting concerns that led to his placement on injured reserve to start the season.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the trip, expressing hope that this expert consultation will aid in McCaffrey’s recovery. “I know he’s going to see a specialist that I believe can help him with his Achilles process,” Shanahan stated. “I think he’s doing that over these next few days, and hopefully, it’ll help.”

McCaffrey initially suffered the injury early in training camp, missing four weeks before making a limited return ahead of the season opener on September 9 against the Jets. However, he was a last-minute scratch for that game and subsequently landed on injured reserve on September 14, following a practice where he experienced renewed pain in his Achilles tendon. While he qualifies to return for a Week 6 matchup against Seattle, there are no indications that he’s nearing a return to play.

Last season, McCaffrey had an outstanding performance, leading the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and tying for the league lead with 21 touchdowns, earning the title of AP Offensive Player of the Year. His track record includes a challenging period of injuries during his last two seasons with Carolina, where he missed a total of 23 games. Fortunately, he remained healthy for the past two seasons, missing just one game in 2022-23—an inconsequential Week 18 contest last season due to a sore calf. During that span, he tallied an impressive 798 combined touches from scrimmage in regular season and playoff games, marking the third most for any player in the last decade.

The 49ers have faced significant injury challenges early in the season, with key players such as wide receiver Deebo Samuel and All-Pro tight end George Kittle also sidelined. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave has been reported to likely face a season-ending injury following a game on Sunday.

Hargrave is dealing with a partially torn triceps that will necessitate surgery. Shanahan mentioned that there’s a chance he could return if the team advances deep into the playoffs, but the organization is preparing to proceed without one of its central defensive figures. “It’s a big one,” Shanahan said, reflecting on Hargrave’s loss. “I thought he had his best game yesterday. I thought he was a huge factor, really affected the quarterback in that game. It’s a big loss. He’s one of our better players.” Shanahan remained optimistic, noting that Hargrave was on track for a standout season.

In addition to these developments, quarterback Brock Purdy is currently dealing with back soreness post the recent loss, but an MRI revealed no serious damage, and he is being evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

On a brighter note, San Francisco is expected to welcome back tight end George Kittle this week after he missed a game due to a hamstring injury sustained in practice the previous week. Meanwhile, there have been no significant updates regarding linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who tore his Achilles tendon during the Super Bowl and is anticipated to return in the latter part of the season.