Christian McCaffrey finally expected to make 2024 debut in huge 49ers boost

The wait appears over. Christian McCaffrey might finally be off the shelf.

That’s according to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, who said Thursday that the veteran running back is on the right track and expects McCaffrey to play in Week 10 on Sunday.

“I do feel good one way or another. He’s had two good days… he’s been awesome these last two days,” Shanahan said on KNBR’s “Tolbert & Copes.”

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) scores a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. 3
Christian McCaffrey scores a touchdown in the first half during the 49ers Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs last year in Las Vegas. AP

“So hopefully, that continues to go well and I expect to get him out there and you never know for a setback or anything but these two days have been great and I expect to see him out there.”

The news comes a week and a half after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on “Good Morning Football” that he would not be surprised if McCaffrey was back on the field for a matchup with the Buccaneers, which comes on the heels of San Francisco having a bye week.

It’s a long road back for McCaffrey, who dealt with a calf injury in the preseason before Shanahan revealed after a Week 1 win over the Jets — which the running back was a surprise inactive for — that the star also had Achilles tendinitis.

He was then placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) watches from the sideline due to injury during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium. 3
Christian McCaffrey watches from the sidelines during the 49ers’ Week 1 win over the Jets. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

On Monday, McCaffrey finally returned to practice, making his teammates ecstatic.

“You could put him in any offense and that would make it better,” offensive lineman Trent Williams told reporters. “Obviously, our offense is kind of tailor-made to him and some of his strengths so it definitely will be a tremendous lift for us.”

McCaffrey, the AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, would be a welcome sight to the 49ers, who have started the season with a 4-4 mark.

Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers fights off the tackle of Kader Kohou #28 of the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. 3
Christian McCaffrey fights off the tackle by the Dolphins’ Kader Kohou during a game in 2022. Getty Images

Jordan Mason has done an admirable job in place of the three-time Pro Bowler, rushing for 685 yards in eight games.

But McCaffrey has averaged 807 receiving yards per season in his career, something Mason (10 catches for 86 yards this season) has not been able to match.

So if McCaffrey is able to play Sunday, he should give the entire offense a huge boost against Tampa Bay.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) scores a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas.Christian McCaffrey scores a touchdown in the first half during the 49ers Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs last year in Las Vegas. AP
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) watches from the sideline due to injury during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium.Christian McCaffrey watches from the sidelines during the 49ers’ Week 1 win over the Jets. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers fights off the tackle of Kader Kohou #28 of the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Santa Clara, California.Christian McCaffrey fights off the tackle by the Dolphins’ Kader Kohou during a game in 2022.

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