The San Francisco 49ers plan to get running back Christian McCaffrey back sooner rather than later.
That would be the indication based on head coach Kyle Shanahan’s press conference Wednesday. Shanahan told reporters the club never considered putting McCaffrey on IR as he works through calf and Achilles injuries.
If McCaffrey went on IR he’d have to miss a minimum of four weeks. He was out for the season opener and he’s still day-to-day with his lower leg ailments. Shanahan told reporters McCaffrey would be limited in Wednesday’s practice as the team prepares to face the Minnesota Vikings.
Putting McCaffrey on IR at this point would mean he’s out until at least Week 6.
Shanahan also said after the team’s season opener that McCaffrey would have played if it was a postseason game, which is more evidence his absence is more about injury management. This is something the 49ers and McCaffrey will likely be dealing with all season.
There’s a chance he could miss the second game according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A limited practice Wednesday would seem to indicate that a Week 2 absence is still on the table.
However, the team clearly doesn’t plan for him to miss many more games than that. If they did, they’d put him on IR and open a roster spot to provide some depth at running back.
The 49ers have options once McCaffrey does return. Backup RB Jordan Mason looked excellent in the season opener and appears to be a viable ball carrier who can spell McCaffrey during games to help him lighten the workload on his ailing Achilles.
