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MINNEAPOLIS — The San Francisco 49ers are sure that they will be with out operating again Christian McCaffrey for at the very least the following three video games. And whereas it could possibly be longer than that earlier than McCaffrey returns from Achilles tendonitis, coach Kyle Shanahan stated Sunday it is too quickly to make that willpower.
“No person is aware of,” Shanahan stated. “We’re coping with tendinitis so, not one particular person is aware of. He does not know. We do not know and [we will] take it daily.”
Whereas backup operating again Jordan Mason continued to supply Sunday, the Niners undoubtedly may have used McCaffrey in a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Regardless of piling up 399 yards of offense, the Niners have been restricted to 17 factors as they completed a mixed 3-of-13 on third and fourth downs, gave up six sacks and have been 2-of-4 within the pink zone.
The Niners positioned McCaffrey on injured reserve Saturday afternoon as he continues to cope with calf and Achilles points. On the middle of the issue for McCaffrey is Achilles tendinitis that has been arduous to foretell on a day-to-day foundation. Requested Sunday whether or not McCaffrey would wish surgical procedure, Shanahan stated “not that I have been advised.”
On Thursday, McCaffrey had what Shanahan referred to as his “worst” day by way of coping with the tendonitis whereas he practiced on a restricted foundation. That flare up saved McCaffrey out of Friday’s observe altogether and in the end led to the choice to ship him to injured reserve.
The earliest McCaffrey may return can be the Oct. 10 sport in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, although that’s on Thursday night time which might imply a brief week and a man-made taking part in floor in his first sport again.
Based on Shanahan, the choice to place McCaffrey on IR was made, at the very least partly, as a manner of forcing everyone to decelerate and never attempt to rush him again. The NFL’s reigning Offensive Participant of the 12 months has been adamant about taking part in, declaring in every of the previous two weeks he’d be able to go regardless of exterior doubters.
“By placing him on IR, it is at the very least 4 weeks,” Shanahan stated. “It will give him a while to relaxation and defend him from himself. Us too. Regardless of how he is feeling.”
Absent McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell (who’s out for the 12 months with a hamstring harm), Mason made his second profession begin on Sunday. He once more stuffed in properly, dashing 20 instances for 100 yards with a landing, changing into the primary participant since Aaron Jones in 2017 to hurry for 100-plus yards in every of his first two profession begins.
“[He] simply does what he is been doing since he is been right here,” Shanahan stated of Mason. “We have had two guys go down already, so I feel it is fairly apparent that he is aware of he is beginning when that is case.”
However Mason is not the menace McCaffrey is in relation to operating routes and catching passes. In 2023, McCaffrey was third in receptions (67), second in receiving yards (564) and first in landing catches (seven) amongst all operating backs. In his two begins this season, Mason has two catches for 9 yards.
McCaffrey’s versatility, particularly together with wideout Deebo Samuel, opens up a dimension to San Francisco’s offense that few groups can match.
“Christian is the offensive MVP for a purpose,” tight finish George Kittle stated. “He has an unbelievable influence on this staff. Simply him being round, he boosts everybody’s confidence. I nonetheless suppose we had alternatives to discover a option to win right now and we simply did not. However yeah, it is simply there’s issues that we won’t do with out Christian.”
Shanahan initially introduced McCaffrey’s harm on Aug. 6. On the time, Shanahan stated they hoped McCaffrey would miss a few weeks, not take part in any preseason video games after which be prepared for the season opener in opposition to the New York Jets.
That plan gave the impression to be coming to fruition as McCaffrey was seen operating on the facet inside a number of weeks after the harm and returned to observe within the week earlier than the Sept. 9 win in opposition to the Jets.
However McCaffrey was a shock scratch from that sport regardless of his insistence a number of days earlier than that he would play. On Wednesday, McCaffrey defined that he mentally tells himself each week he’ll play as a method of self-motivation.
On Thursday, McCaffrey didn’t fare properly in observe and by Friday afternoon, Shanahan and basic supervisor John Lynch have been overtly discussing the potential to put him on injured reserve.
Sunday’s loss to the Vikings counts within the 4 video games McCaffrey should miss whereas on injured reserve. He is additionally undoubtedly out subsequent week in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams, on Sept. 29 in opposition to the New England Patriots and on Oct. 6 in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.
