Christian McCaffrey can be eligible to return off Injured Reserve after the following two video games. The San Francisco 49ers positioned him there on Sept. 14 to permit him time to relaxation his Achilles. He should stay on Injured Reserve for no less than 4 video games earlier than being introduced again.
Nonetheless, the 49ers ought to put together for the worst-case state of affairs with McCaffrey, which isn’t with the ability to play in 2024. The sort of damage wants excessive care and does not drastically get higher in a month. That’s the reason McCaffrey flew to Germany to hunt therapy from a specialist for his Achilles tendinitis this previous weekend.
“I am unsure what physician it’s,” Kyle Shanahan stated. “I simply, I do know he’s going to see a specialist that I consider may also help him along with his Achilles course of and I believe he is doing that over these subsequent few days and hopefully it will assist.”
It is implausible to listen to that McCaffrey is exhausting all of his choices to get his Achilles healed up. However on the identical time, it is a sign of the place his damage is at. It is not getting higher or will not in an ample period of time. There isn’t a telling if he can be able to play at any level this yr.
One factor is for positive: he will not be able to play as soon as he’s eligible to be activated off of Injured Reserve. It’d find yourself being that one of the best plan of action for McCaffrey to take is to not play this yr. If his Achilles is not getting significantly better or if he has to play nicely below one hundred pc of his capability, then shutting him down must be the transfer.
It is not price him risking tearing his Achilles to play on this state. That is one thing the 49ers must be contemplating in the event that they have not already. They must be of the mindset that McCaffrey is not coming again this yr. Fortunately, Jordan Mason has offered an exceptional contingency for them.
The operating sport remains to be producing at a excessive degree. However Mason does not present the identical impression as a move catcher, particularly on third-down performs. That’s the place the absence of McCaffrey hurts the 49ers essentially the most. Nonetheless, it’s a actuality they have to dwell with as a result of it is perhaps that means for the remainder of the season.