Last season's Offensive Player of the Year is off to a rocky start in his pursuit to defend his title. 49ers' star running back Christian McCaffrey has been dealing with injuries throughout the preseason which could potentially spill over into the regular season when the 49ers square off with the Jets on Monday Night Football.
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McCaffrey suffered a calf strain early in training camp, and it proved to be severe enough that he was quickly ruled out of all preseason action. This also happens to be the same injury that cut McCaffrey's regular season short in 2023 and put him in danger of missing time during the 49ers' Super Bowl run.
On top of the calf issues, an Achilles injury also popped up for McCaffrey in recent weeks. This secondary injury isn't considered to be serious by any means, but it was enough for it to be denoted on San Francisco's injury report throughout the week. With multiple injuries plaguing the All-Pro running back, will he be able to suit up for Week 1?
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Is Christian McCaffrey playing Monday night Week 1 vs. Jets?
UPDATE: In a shocker, McCaffrey is officially OUT.
The 49ers don't take the field until Monday night, so there isn't official confirmation on McCaffrey's availability just yet. However, the belief among NFL insiders is that McCaffrey will indeed be active for Monday Night Football. McCaffrey himself even expressed that he has no concern about his injuries as Week 1 approaches.
Christian McCaffrey said his calf/Achilles is “not a concern for me.” pic.twitter.com/UceeuWarxj
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) September 6, 2024
Unless McCaffrey suffers a significant setback, we should expect to see him play on Monday night. It's likely that official confirmation will not be received until inactives are due at 6:45 p.m. ET, so keep your eyes peeled for news as the game approaches tomorrow evening.
We'll continue to update this article with the latest news.
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Will Christian McCaffrey be limited in Week 1?
As players return from an injury, it's common the see them slowly ramp up to their typical workload. However, this is not expected to be the case with McCaffrey. NFL inside Mike Garafolo shared that McCaffrey is expected to see a "full complement of snaps" this week. It should be noted that the 49ers plan to keep a close eye on McCaffrey throughout the game and their plan for his usage may shift as the game progresses.
Who is Christian McCaffrey's backup?
If McCaffrey is ultimately sidelined or is shut down during the game, his direct backup is third-year running back Jordan Mason. Elijah Mitchell had filled this role for several years, but he was placed on season-ending injured reserve just a few weeks ago.
Mason will be a fine RB2 if McCaffrey is out, as he's averaged 5.6 yards per attempt in his career.
Christian McCaffrey fantasy outlook Week 1
The expectation is that McCaffrey will handle his typical large workload, but it wouldn't come as a shock to see Mason get some touches here and there on Monday night. Nonetheless, McCaffrey is a must-start in all formats.
If you're still nervous, make sure you have an emergency flex ready just in case McCaffrey has a setback. Mason would be the preferred widely available option, but you could also try a WR like Malachi Corley or Jauan Jennings, or a TD-dependent RB like Braelon Allen.
