49ers' McCaffrey (calf) shock inactive vs. Jets

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After declaring Friday that he had little question he would play, San Francisco 49ers operating again Christian McCaffrey is out for Monday evening’s opener in opposition to the New York Jets.

McCaffrey has handled a calf and Achilles damage for the reason that early days of coaching camp, with coach Kyle Shanahan saying the illnesses on Aug. 6. Shanahan stated then that McCaffrey could be out for a few weeks and never take part within the preseason. The expectation, although, was that McCaffrey would be capable of get again in time for Monday’s recreation.

On Friday, McCaffrey even stated he was hopeful he would get his normal heavy workload. And common supervisor John Lynch informed KNBR radio Friday morning that McCaffrey would “be on the market and able to roll.” However even after collaborating on a restricted foundation in 4 practices this week, McCaffrey was dominated out in opposition to the Jets about 90 minutes earlier than the sport as one in all their six inactives (plus the emergency third quarterback). The Niners listed McCaffrey as questionable in opposition to the Jets even after teammates and coaches had expressed optimism about his probabilities to play and contribute one thing near his normal degree.

“He appears like Christian to me,” run recreation coordinator Chris Foerster stated Friday. “You should observe, so the blokes who have not practiced, I do not need to say there’s rust, however there’s all the time somewhat one thing that goes on simply because they have not been doing it day by day. There’s simply that grind of day by day, day after day. However he is seemed good.”

McCaffrey handled the same damage on the finish of final season. He suffered that one in a Week 17 win in opposition to the Washington Commanders then didn’t play in a meaningless Week 18 recreation versus the Los Angeles Rams. He returned for the NFC divisional spherical in opposition to the Green Bay Packers about three weeks after that preliminary damage. Shanahan stated Saturday the damage McCaffrey has been coping with is much like that one.

Earlier than he returned to observe Tuesday, McCaffrey appeared to be shifting round properly throughout observe, and he stated he felt “significantly better” when chatting with reporters on Friday.

McCaffrey is the NFL’s reigning Offensive Participant of the Yr after posting 1,459 speeding yards, 564 receiving yards and 21 whole touchdowns in 2023.

With out McCaffrey, Jordan Mason is anticipated to start out at operating again. This might be Mason’s first profession begin after averaging 5.6 yards per carry in 33 profession video games. The previous undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech has by no means had greater than 69 speeding yards, 11 carries or 27 snaps in a recreation.

Veteran Patrick Taylor Jr. and rookie Isaac Guerendo are the crew’s different lively operating backs Monday evening.

Elijah Mitchell, the crew’s backup operating again final season, is on injured reserve and out for the 12 months with a hamstring damage.