Reigning Offensive Player of the Year has been sidelined with Achilles tendinitis
It’s clear the San Francisco 49ers offense just isn’t the same without star running back Christian McCaffrey.
Sidelined through the first eight weeks of the season with Achilles tendinitis in both legs, McCaffrey has been working toward a return, which according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, isn’t too far off.
During an appearance on “Good Morning Football” on Friday, Rapoport revealed that after San Francisco’s Week 8 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football,” McCaffrey is expected to start practicing during the team’s bye in preparation for his return the following week.
“This actually might be the last game that Jordan mason is the bell-cow,” Rapoport stated. “The 49ers have a bye (next week), Christian McCaffrey should start practicing and there’s a very good chance McCaffrey is on the field Nov. 10 for the 49ers next game (against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).”
In McCaffrey’s absence, Jordan Mason has done as good of a job as anyone could’ve asked.
The 25-year-old tailback ranks second in the NFL in rushing (667 yards), behind only Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, and he’s also logged three rushing touchdowns along with 10 catches for 86 yards.
Though he’ll be bumped down to the No. 2 back, Mason should still have a prominent role in the offense to help keep McCaffrey as fresh as possible heading into the playoffs.McCaffrey’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for a beat up 49ers offense. With star receiver Brandon Aiyuk out for the rest of the year with a torn ACL and MCL, McCaffrey’s presence will certainly boost the passing offense (McCaffrey’s 67 receptions were the third-most among RBs last season and he was second in the same category with 85 catches in 2022.)
