On Thursday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed optimism that star running back Christian McCaffrey would be back on the field this Sunday when the team faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
"You never know for a setback or anything, but these two days have been great, and expect to see him out there," Shanahan shared during a radio interview.
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While general manager John Lynch isn't with the team—he's in Texas for the funeral of cornerback Charvarius Ward's daughter, who tragically passed away last week—he remains hopeful about McCaffrey's return.
Lynch is excited at the prospect of seeing McCaffrey finally back on the field for the first time this season after the running back's extended battle with Achilles tendinitis.
"I think substantively what we know is that he practiced Monday in a bonus practice, showed up Tuesday feeling good, had an off day, practiced Wednesday, Thursday, kind of in a normal fashion like we would during any work week, and looked great," Lynch said Friday morning on Bay Area radio station KNBR.
"I'm not there, so obviously, holding on that he shows up today and feels good. That's always kind of how these things work. You just want to see that they respond. But he's looked terrific, and I'd say hopeful that he's going to be out there with us.
"And won't get into in what form or fashion, how many snaps, all that. We'll have a plan for that. But I think that's all good news for us. We know what a special player Christian is, and he's worked incredibly hard. Really have had so much respect for him. But watching him go through this, the intensity and detail with which he approaches everything in his life, including this rehab, has been pretty remarkable."
McCaffrey is the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, earning the title after a standout 2023 campaign with 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns.
The 49ers, entering the game with a 4-4 record, aim to secure their second consecutive win after defeating the Dallas Cowboys before the bye.
You can listen to Lynch's entire interview below.
