49ers’ Star Christian McCaffrey Ready for First Game of Season vs. Bucs

After looking at Christian McCaffrey participating within the San Francisco 49ers’ maximum strenuous exercise of the week, coach Kyle Shanahan stated he has seen enough to believe that the superstar strolling back will make his season debut Sunday.

Speaking to KNBR radio in San Francisco on Thursday, Shanahan said McCaffrey has accomplished properly sufficient in practice this week to go back towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“He’s been superb these last days,” Shanahan said. “You never understand [about] a setback or whatever; however, those two days had been amazing, and I assume to peer him out there.”

McCaffrey has been on injured reserve for the reason that Sept. 14 due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis that observed calf damage that commenced to bother him in early August. McCaffrey traveled to Germany to meet with a consultant while the 49ers were in Los Angeles to play the Rams on Sept. 22.

Before closing week’s bye, Shanahan said McCaffrey might stick across the group facility and do simulated practice sports that could result in his go back to exercise. There were no setbacks from that, which caused the practice window establishing Monday.

McCaffrey took component within the crew’s “bonus” exercise that day and has on the grounds that participated on a confined foundation in periods Wednesday and Thursday. But the Thursday exercise changed into continually notion to be the most critical; it’s the only padded session of the week and the longest.

Now, all that stands among McCaffrey and his season debut Sunday is a lighter Friday practice that is a little extra than a stroll-through after which a cross-u . S . A . Flight to Tampa, Florida, on Friday night. Barring any issues there, the Niners might then activate McCaffrey from injured reserve Saturday.

To make room for him on the roster, they will want to make a corresponding pass to open a niche.For the better part of the past few weeks, Shanahan and the Niners have pointed to this week for McCaffrey’s ability return as he continued the rehab that saved him out of the group’s first eight games.

McCaffrey’s return to practice has provided an outstanding improvement for the 4-4 Niners, in keeping with coaches and teammates.”It’s been amazing,” quarterback Brock Purdy stated. “Just what he brings to the table and clearly just firing each person else up around. All folks coming off the bye week and feeling correct and fresh and then you get 2-three subsequent to you within the backfield, it’s been excellent. It seems incredible transferring round and he’s trending in the proper direction. So, we are excited to see what takes place.”

Assuming McCaffrey does play in opposition to Tampa Bay, it stays to be visible if he’ll take his usual workload. When wholesome, McCaffrey has been the team’s primary again, racking up a career-excessive 417 touches (along with playoffs) on his way to winning the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award in 2023.

Jordan Mason, who stepped in for McCaffrey and ranks 1/3 inside the NFL in dashing yards in line with recreation, offers depth, however he, too, become restrained in exercise Thursday because of an ongoing shoulder harm. Rookie Isaac Guerendo and veteran Patrick Taylor Jr. Are the alternative backs on the 53-man roster.

Despite these options, Shanahan has stated that McCaffrey’s workload will depend on how he feels as the game approaches and stated on Wednesday that he does not think McCaffrey’s accidents are the result of overworking him in previous seasons.

“I think matters occur to a frame,” Shanahan said. “I assume they occur in offseason, however I don’t think that truely has to do with numbers. When a man is healthy and desirable, they’re typically accurate. But we have were given to peer wherein his conditioning is at and the way he is. I recognise he is conditioned in addition to he can be, but how his football conditioning is and stuff. But generally, I don’t chalk as much as numbers twelve months to affect the injury the subsequent yr.”

If matters go according to devise, Shanahan additionally indicated to KNBR that a couple of other key Niners — receivers Jauan Jennings (hip) and Deebo Samuel (rib, oblique) — are also anticipated to play against the Bucs.