The San Francisco 49ers said going into today that we might finally see Christian McCaffrey make his season debut. And now ahead of today's meeting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 2023 MVP runner-up seems about to see first action of the 2024 season.
The progress starts with an official move of McCaffrey to the 53-man roster. That has happened. What's next?
McCaffrey had missed the first eight games of the season while dealing with bilateral Achilles tendinitis. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan had already dropped a strong hint that McCaffrey would play, saying on Friday that it would take "something crazy" on the team flight for the running back not to take the field.
Now the stage is set for his season debut. ... with the 4-5 Bucs needing to deal not only with his talent but also with the emotions that will likely fuel the 4-4 Niners today.
McCaffrey, for his part, sounds ready.
"Sometimes you take it for granted that you play this game for a living and it's what you do, it's what you train for, but when it's taken from you, even just for a little bit of time, it makes you really appreciate every single day you're on the grass," McCaffrey said Friday.
The 49ers - 6.5-point favorites on the road here - could get more help on Sunday as they are also expected to have wide receiver Deebo Samuel on the field. Samuel had been listed as questionable with rib and oblique injuries.
