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Nick Wagoner, ESPN Employees AuthorSep 14, 2024, 01:24 PM ET
Close- Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has coated the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having beforehand coated the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, together with three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In his 10 years with the corporate, Nick has led ESPN’s protection of the Niners’ 2019 Tremendous Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the primary overtly homosexual participant drafted to the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the group’s relocation and stadium saga. You possibly can comply with Nick by way of Twitter @nwagoner
MINNEAPOLIS — The San Francisco 49ers are putting star operating again Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve with calf soreness and Achilles tendinitis, sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday.
McCaffrey should miss a minimum of the subsequent 4 video games — together with Sunday’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings — and is eligible to return for an Oct. 10 assembly with the Seattle Seahawks on “Thursday Night time Soccer,” although that is not a assure.
On Friday, San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged for the primary time since initially saying McCaffrey’s harm on Aug. 6 that injured reserve was an actual chance. That got here after McCaffrey’s Achilles didn’t reply effectively to restricted participation in apply on Thursday.
“Yesterday was his worst day,” Shanahan mentioned. “It is on and off, however with yesterday having probably the most ache. It is one thing we’ll be discussing collectively within the subsequent 24 hours.”
These discussions in the end led to Saturday’s resolution to close McCaffrey down in hopes that the continued flare-ups within the Achilles will cool down. Shanahan has mentioned the toughest a part of McCaffrey’s harm has been its unpredictability, with the operating again feeling good and practising some days after which feeling ache on others.
Touchdown on injured reserve is undoubtedly a disappointment for McCaffrey, the NFL’s reigning Offensive Participant of the Yr. As lately as Wednesday, he mentioned he deliberate to play towards the Vikings, explaining that his mindset each week is that he will be able to go even when he is coping with an harm.
“I hate not enjoying,” McCaffrey mentioned Wednesday. “However I take a look at it as a chess transfer and one thing that hopefully you possibly can profit from the remainder of the season.”
This IR stint is McCaffrey’s first since becoming a member of the 49ers by way of commerce in October 2022. Together with the postseason, McCaffrey had solely missed one among 33 potential video games in that point, with the lone miss being a meaningless Week 18 sport towards the Los Angeles Rams by which McCaffrey was coping with a calf harm however each groups had been resting starters anyway.
Earlier than arriving in San Francisco, McCaffrey had struggled with accidents as a member of the Carolina Panthers. In 2020 and 2021, McCaffrey performed in a mixed 10 video games, lacking video games due to a excessive proper ankle sprain, an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, a strained glute and hamstring, and a left ankle sprain.
With McCaffrey out, Jordan Mason will deal with the first operating again duties after making the primary begin of his profession final week towards the New York Jets. Mason completed with 28 carries for 147 yards, each profession highs, and scored a landing. It was probably the most carries in a regular-season sport by a Niners participant since Shanahan took over in 2017 and probably the most in a 49ers season opener in franchise historical past.
In opposition to the Jets, the Niners used receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. as Mason’s foremost backup. He had eight carries for 23 yards and a landing. Different operating again choices for the 49ers embrace rookie Isaac Guerendo and fourth-year veteran Patrick Taylor Jr. on the lively roster and fifth-year veteran Ke’Shawn Vaughn on the apply squad.