Christian McCaffrey won’t be active for tonight’s showdown with the Jets. The team has announced that the star running back is inactive with his Achilles/calf issues. Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group was first to report the news.
McCaffrey was listed as questionable heading into the contest after being limited in practice with his leg issue. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes that the running back was optimistic that he’d be on the field for Monday Night Football, but McCaffrey tested his calf earlier today and determined that it “didn’t feel right.” Both the player and the team opted to take things slow with the hope that the running back will soon recover.
Injuries were a theme during McCaffrey’s final seasons in Carolina, but the running back has stayed relatively healthy over the past year-plus. The veteran has been active for all but one of the 49ers’ 34 games (including playoffs) since he joined the organization.
With McCaffrey out of the lineup, the 49ers will likely turn to Jordan Mason as their starting RB against the Jets. The former UDFA earned the RB2 role after Elijah Mitchell landed on IR, and Mason will now be in line for his first NFL start. The Georgia Tech product has appeared in 33 games with the 49ers over the past two seasons, collecting 495 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.
Mason’s promotion to RB1 will also impact the rest of the depth chart. Patrick Taylor Jr. and fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo will be competing for any leftover RB snaps tonight. Guerendo is also expected to return kicks for the 49ers, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Deebo Samuel could also get some looks in the running game after averaging 46 rushing attempts per season between 2021 and 2023.
NFL trying to make sure Rodgers has a chance tonight.
I would never buy into conspiracy theories but man the Jets and Rodgers would dominate the news if they pulled off an upset
If there was a conspiracy, they would be better off making a couple SF D-lineman inactive so Rodgers can stay upright.
What does the nfl have to do with the niners injuries lmao. Jordan Mason bought a juggs machine in the off-season, that was the only thing keeping him off the field last year(hands). Think they’re okay with him judging by tonight
This is not a real surprise – as the 49ers have been avoiding any discussion about McCaffrey for the last 3 weeks.
Mason could start for a fair amount of teams
A lot of backup rbs could look good on the niners too…
How McCaffrey got that baby cow onto the playing field which resulted in injury will remain a mystery.
Mason did a good job tonight but the Niners can’t over-use McCaffrey this year. They have to be smart so he can help them try to win it all but I simply don’t believe Shanahan can win a championship. The owners don’t like the York family.
There isn’t any reason to rush CMC back at this point. Let him take it easy this week as well and then be good to go for the Rams. Then him and Mason can share the load for the three games after and he should be ramped and ready to go for the Chiefs.
Mason said the team told him he would be starting on Friday. The Niners might be in for a slap on the wrist.