McCaffrey Expects Usual Workload for Niners’ Season Opener

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for their season opener against the New York Jets, running back Christian McCaffrey is optimistic about his performance on Monday night. He believes he will not only participate but take on his usual share of game snaps.

McCaffrey has been recovering from a calf and Achilles injury, which kept him out for most of training camp. However, he returned to practice on Tuesday and has been actively involved in Thursday and Friday’s sessions.

During a media session with Bay Area reporters on Friday, McCaffrey didn’t elaborate much on his health but was clear about his expectations for the upcoming game. When asked if there was any doubt about his ability to play against the Jets, he replied confidently, “No.” He also expressed hope about handling his normal workload, stating, “I hope so.”

Earlier on the same day, 49ers general manager John Lynch assured KNBR radio listeners in San Francisco that McCaffrey would “be out there and ready to roll” provided he continued to progress during practice.

Coach Kyle Shanahan first reported McCaffrey’s calf strain on August 6 and announced that the star running back would miss the entire preseason along with a few weeks of practice. This timeline was consistent as McCaffrey did not return to official practice until this past Tuesday, although he had been running and participating in light workouts on the sidelines prior to that.

While McCaffrey was listed as limited in practice over the past few days, he displayed no visible limitations on the field. After Friday’s session, he indicated that he was feeling “much better.”

Run game coordinator Chris Foerster noted McCaffrey’s return to form, saying, “He looks like Christian to me.” However, he did acknowledge the challenge players face when getting back into their rhythm after time off. He mentioned a slight adjustment period for players who haven’t been practicing regularly, but praised McCaffrey’s progress.

Due to the 49ers not being required to produce an official injury report until Thursday, McCaffrey’s Achilles issue raised some eyebrows among fans and analysts. Shanahan clarified that this Achilles concern was related to the initial calf injury and was not a new development.

When questioned about long-term worries surrounding his Achilles, McCaffrey reassured everyone that it was “not a concern.” He previously mentioned that he would have been ready to play if the circumstances had involved a regular-season or playoff game during his recovery.

Teammates are optimistic about McCaffrey’s potential for another standout season, following his impressive 2023 stats—1,459 rushing yards, 564 receiving yards, and 21 total touchdowns—that earned him the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. Tight end George Kittle stated, “He has an incredibly high standard for himself… I believe that Christian is going to have another great year. I think he’ll probably compete for the MVP.”

In McCaffrey’s absence, running back Jordan Mason has stepped up as the primary ball carrier, putting him first in line to take any snaps McCaffrey might miss. The team also has rookie Isaac Guerendo and veteran Patrick Taylor Jr. available on the roster. However, Guerendo has been limited in practice this week due to a groin injury.

Despite the uncertainty around his injury, McCaffrey remains focused solely on preparing for the Jets and starting the regular season on a strong note. “It’s just taking it one play at a time,” he said. “I don’t like to look at what’s ahead. Each play has a life of its own. Just do what you have to do on each play, take care of the things that you can control and then go from there.”