Christian McCaffrey returned to the practice field for the San Francisco 49ers this past Monday, November 4.
CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY ReturnS
After nearly two months on injured reserve, Christian McCaffrey has finally returned to the practice field. This is huge news for the 49ers, who’ve been eagerly awaiting the return of their star running back.
“He’s been awesome these last two days,” coach Kyle Shanahan told KNBR radio. “You never know [about] a setback or anything, but these two days have been great, and I expect to see him out there.”
McCaffrey’s 2024 Season So Far
Unfortunately, Christian McCaffrey’s 2024 season has been a non-starter because McCaffrey has been sidelined all season due to Achilles tendinitis and calf issues.
During training camp, Shanahan announced that McCaffrey would be held out of preseason play as a precaution and would also miss a few weeks of practice due to calf issues.
He briefly returned to practice before the season opener but was ruled out just before the game against the New York Jets on September 9.
McCaffrey experienced a setback during practice on September 12, which led to him being placed on injured reserve two days later for Achilles tendinitis.
On November 4, 2024, the 49ers initiated a three-week window of practice for McCaffrey, allowing them to assess his readiness before possibly reinstating him from injured reserve.
McCaffrey resumed practice in a limited capacity and is listed as questionable to play in Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“We’ll take him off IR tomorrow, and then he’ll be good to go unless something crazy happens on this plane ride,” Shanahan said. “He should be good to go tomorrow once he gets off IR.”
JORDAN MASON
Jordan Mason, who is nursing a shoulder injury, has performed exceptionally well in Christian McCaffrey’s absence for the San Francisco 49ers this season. Mason’s performance has helped the 49ers maintain a strong running game in McCaffrey’s absence, contributing significantly to their offensive production.
“You want guys who are serviceable at it and can do a good job, and all our guys do, but Christian’s on a whole other level with that aspect,” said Shanahan.
Mason has been one of the most productive rushers in the NFL, ranking fourth in the league with 685 yards on 134 carries through 8 games. This puts him behind only Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs.
The Impact of His Return
McCaffrey’s potential return couldn’t come at a better time for the 49ers. Currently sitting at 4-4, they’re hoping his comeback will provide the spark they need for a strong second-half push.
The reigning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year led the league with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns. Without McCaffrey, the 49ers are down a whopping twenty percent in red zone percentage from 2023.
His absence could also be attributed to the 49ers scoring 3.9 fewer points per game compared to last season.
“I feel it’s been as easy of football as I’ve had in my 20 years,” Shanahan told reporters in September. “It’s a very good bonus to have a really good third-down back. Just situationally, what it does on third down, what it does in the red zone, to me has as big of an effect on anything that I’ve experienced.”
PREVIOUS INJURIES
McCaffrey has remained relatively healthy since joinging the 49ers. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he has sat out just one game (Week 18 of 2022) because of a minor calf problem. While with the Carolina Panthers, he missed several games over multiple seasons, including:
- High ankle sprain (2020): McCaffrey suffered a right high-ankle sprain in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, causing him to miss six games.
- Shoulder AC joint sprain (2020): He injured his shoulder in Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs, resulting in a four-game absence.
- Thigh/glute strain (2020): McCaffrey’s thigh tightened up before Week 14, leading to him missing four games.
- Hamstring strain (2021): In Week 3 against the Houston Texans, McCaffrey suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain, sidelining him for five games.
- Ankle sprain (2021): McCaffrey rolled his left ankle in Week 12 against the Miami Dolphins. This Grade 2 ankle sprain ended his season, as he was placed on injured reserve.
This season marks his first significant injury since joining the San Francisco 49ers during the 2022 season.
What to Expect
Christian McCaffrey’s return is set for Sunday and barring any setbacks in practice he should play.
It’s possible that we could see a rotation between CMC and Jordan Mason in Christian McCaffrey’s return. If McCaffrey is able to play through the game and not experience any issues, then we he would likely start taking the bulk of the load in a week or two.
If Christian McCaffrey returns to his 2023 form, we could see:
- A significant boost to the 49ers’ red zone efficiency
- Increased production in the passing game
- More opportunities for big plays and explosive runs
However, you never know how a player is going to perform after missing a chunk of time in the eighth season of their career. Then again, CMC is one tough dude.
