San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey missed most of training camp and the entire preseason due to a calf strain and Achilles tendinitis, the latter of which kept him out of Week 1.
On Saturday, the 49ers placed McCaffrey on injured reserve, making him ineligible for the next four games. However, he may need more time than that to return to action. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, McCaffrey could require as much as six weeks—perhaps more—of recovery.
"My understanding, Christian McCaffrey is dealing with painful Achilles tendinitis, described to me as frustrating and difficult," Rapoport said. "Difficult to run, certainly difficult to get rid of. Now, he is not at more of a risk of tearing his Achilles, but from my understanding, he's likely to be out six weeks or potentially more, which means [Jordan] Mason, the preseason MVP of the 49ers, is going to get a ton of touches."
From @NFLGameDay: #49ers RB Christian McCaffrey may need as much as 6 weeks to heal from his Achilles tendinitis, a frustrating injury; Meanwhile, #Rams WR Puka Nacua (PCL) could remain on the sidelines until Week 9. pic.twitter.com/zFiWNnGOdZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2024
The decision to place McCaffrey on injured reserve came after the running back attempted to practice on Wednesday and Thursday but missed Friday's session due to discomfort. It became evident that McCaffrey was unlikely to play against the Minnesota Vikings and might need additional recovery time.
"But primary in our mind is the long view," general manager John Lynch said on Friday morning. "Christian is such an elite player. He changes us. He makes us different. But also, it's nice to see that we can function without him. We can function at a really high level."
In McCaffrey's absence, Jordan Mason rushed for a career-high 147 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries in the 49ers' 32-19 victory over the New York Jets. He is set to make his second career start on Sunday against the Vikings.