McCaffrey Approaches Week 2 with the Mindset to Play for the 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Christian McCaffrey, the All-Pro running back for the San Francisco 49ers, is gearing up for this week’s practice, determined to play against the Minnesota Vikings, despite ongoing issues with a sore calf and Achilles tendon that kept him out of the season opener.

On Wednesday, McCaffrey was listed as limited in practice as the team prepared for the Sunday matchup. However, he remains optimistic about his chances of playing.

“My mentality is I’m playing this week and that’s where I’m at,” McCaffrey stated. “That’s how I am every week. I’m not lying. I think as soon as a player says, ‘Maybe I’ll play, maybe I won’t,’ that’s not a good mentality to go into a week with when you’re kind of on the fence.”

McCaffrey’s decision regarding the opener was not made until game day, despite having limited participation in practice throughout the week. This came after he missed the last four weeks of training camp due to his injury.

When he woke up on Monday and felt that he wasn’t ready, the decision was made to hold him out of the game. He indicated that he might undergo a similar evaluation process this week, noting that playing on artificial turf wouldn’t influence his decision.

“It was a group decision, a very tough one,” McCaffrey reflected. “I hate not playing, but I look at it as a chess move, something that hopefully you can benefit from the rest of the season.”

In his absence, the 49ers saw impressive performances from backup Jordan Mason. Mason racked up 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown, contributing to San Francisco’s 32-19 victory over the New York Jets.

This performance marked the most rush attempts for a 49ers player in a regular-season game since Frank Gore had 31 carries against the Cleveland Browns in 2011.

McCaffrey mentioned that he didn’t offer much advice to Mason during the game, as he preferred to simply enjoy the display of talent. “When you’re in a rhythm and you’re in a groove, you let him be,” he said. “He showed that, man. I was so pumped for him, just everything that he’s done all camp. He’s earned that. He’s balled out, and it showed.”

Jordan Mason’s journey to the NFL began as an undrafted free agent after he had limited carries in his final season at Georgia Tech, playing behind first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs.

Initially, he faced challenges in gaining the trust of running backs coach Bobby Turner. However, over time, he managed to earn his place, showcasing his diligence and commitment both on and off the field.

“Jordan has always had a ton of confidence since the first day he got here,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan. “The most part is getting used to Bobby coaching him. Realizing that he is not always angry — he just kind of stays that way — and learning to appreciate it.”

Mason’s hard work culminated in a stellar performance on Monday night, as his physical running style proved to be exceptionally challenging for the Jets to handle. He broke 13 tackles during the game, which was five more than any player recorded in Week 1 and fell short of a similar feat only twice throughout last season.

Despite consistently facing stacked boxes on half of his rushing attempts, Mason demonstrated skill and resilience, proving he is capable of handling a heavier workload even when McCaffrey is back in the lineup.