San Francisco 49ers All-Professional working again Christian McCaffrey went to Germany to seek the advice of with a specialist about his Achilles tendinitis.
Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that McCaffrey made the journey in hopes of resolving a difficulty that has bothered him since early in coaching camp and has compelled him onto injured reserve to begin the season.
“I do know he’s going to see a specialist that I consider can assist him together with his Achilles course of,” Shanahan stated Monday. “I believe he’s doing that over these subsequent few days, and hopefully, it’ll assist.”
McCaffrey obtained harm early in coaching camp and missed 4 weeks of apply earlier than returning to the sphere on a restricted foundation earlier than the season opener Sept. 9 in opposition to the Jets.
He was a late scratch for that sport after which went on injured reserve on Sept. 14, two days after experiencing ache within the Achilles tendon following a apply. He’s eligible to return for a Week 6 sport at Seattle however there is no such thing as a indication that he’s near with the ability to play.
McCaffrey led the NFL final season with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and was tied for the league lead with 21 touchdowns, profitable AP Offensive Participant of the Yr.
After lacking 23 video games due to accidents in his closing two full seasons with Carolina, McCaffrey had been wholesome the previous two seasons.
He missed just one sport mixed in 2022-23 — a meaningless Week 18 sport final season for San Francisco when he had a sore calf. His 798 mixed touches from scrimmage within the common season and playoffs had been the third most for any participant in a two-year span up to now 10 years.
The Niners have been closely impacted by accidents early this season with star receiver Deebo Samuel and All-Professional tight finish George Kittle additionally lacking time, and defensive sort out Javon Hargrave seemingly struggling a season-ending damage Sunday.
Hargrave has {a partially} torn triceps that may require surgical procedure. Shanahan stated there’s a chance he might return if San Francisco makes a deep playoff run, however the staff is planning on going the remainder of the best way with out considered one of its prime defensive gamers.
“It’s a giant one,” Shanahan stated. “I believed he had his greatest sport yesterday. I believed he was an enormous issue, actually affected the quarterback in that sport. It’s a giant loss. He’s considered one of our higher gamers. He was undoubtedly getting into the correct path and was going to have a giant 12 months.”
In different damage information, quarterback Brock Purdy has a sore again following Sunday’s loss. An MRI got here again clear and Purdy is listed as each day.
San Francisco ought to get Kittle again this week after he missed a sport with a hamstring damage suffered in apply final week.
Shanahan stated he hasn’t gotten any current updates on the standing of linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who is anticipated again someday within the second half of the season after tearing his Achilles tendon within the Tremendous Bowl.