Christian McCaffrey eyes primetime return vs. Vikings after calf injury sidelined him in Week 1
Christian McCaffrey was a surprise inactive for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. The running back was dealing with a bit of a calf problem, but it felt throughout the whole week that he would play – one hour before the game, though, the news came out and shocked San Francisco's fans.
A calf injury is always a problem for a running back – especially one that has missed a lot of time with injuries throughout his career. While the prognosis is unconfirmed, it's more likely than not that he'll miss Week 2 as well. Just don't tell him.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, McCaffrey said that, in his head, he will be suiting up against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Both teams are 1-0 to start the season after the Vikings' win over the New York Giants.
In McCaffrey's absence, undrafted running back Jordan Mason, who joined the team in 2022, shone in the starter role. He amassed 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown against the New York Jets, one of the best defenses in the league. He can rest easily with Mason also being a good option.
McCaffrey signs extension with 49ers during offseason
With two years left on his contract, signed when he was still playing for the Carolina Panthers, Kyle Shanahan's team decided to extend its commitment to the running back by adding two extra years for $38 million.
Paying running backs is almost always a bad idea, even one that's so good for your team. However, based on the terms of the extension and how important he is for Shanahan's offense, the new deal was at least understandable.
McCaffrey is a key cog for San Francisco, especially as he also adds a threat through the air. His production is almost impossible to replicate, and even if Mason does a good job running the ball, fans can assume that the starter would've done better.
Still, there's no point in risking an early return at this point of the season, especially as there's a long way to go.