The Arizona Cardinals will avoid running back Christian McCaffrey in their first game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners have decided to place McCaffrey, the NFL’s leading rusher and the Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, on injured reserve for a calf and Achilles injury that has been nagging him.
The decision means he will miss at least four games. The Cardinals will face the Niners on the road in Week 5.
McCaffrey rushed for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns last season and added 67 receptions for 564 yards and seven scores.
His 1,459 rushing yards, 2,023 total yards from scrimmage and 21 total touchdowns led the NFL.
Against the Cardinals in two games last season, he rushed for 221 yards and four scores and caught 12 passes for 142 yards and three scores, combining for 363 total yards and seven touchdowns against them.
However, his replacement in the starting lineup, Jordan Mason, was great in Week 1. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry on 28 attempts, piling up 147 rushing yards and a touchdown in their season-opening win over the New York Jets.
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