San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has yet to suit up during the 2024 NFL season due to Achilles tendinitis in both legs. Will he play in Week 5? Let’s break down the latest on McCaffrey’s injury and whether he’s ready to play this Sunday.
What’s the Latest on Christian McCaffrey’s Injury?
No, McCaffrey won’t be in the lineup this Sunday when the 49ers face the Arizona Cardinals. After Week 1, San Francisco placed McCaffrey on injured reserve (IR), which means he must miss the next four games. That means the soonest that McCaffrey could suit up is Week 6.
However, just because McCaffrey can play in Week 6 doesn’t necessarily mean he will. Recently, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that McCaffrey and the 49ers are targeting an early November return.
The 49ers expect to have Christian McCaffrey back "at least by early November," per @RapSheet. pic.twitter.com/e3XtdZ4Cry
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 29, 2024
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, McCaffrey recently traveled to Germany to see an Achilles tendinitis specialist — perhaps because his case is a bit complex since he’s suffering from tendinitis in both Achilles tendons.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Achilles tendinitis is an overuse injury of the Achilles tendon, the band of tissue that connects calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to your heel bone.”
The clinic also says the injury “most commonly occurs in runners who have suddenly increased the intensity or duration of their runs.”
Tenderness or stiffness, particularly in the morning, are also symptoms. “The pain associated with Achilles tendinitis typically begins as a mild ache in the back of the leg or above the heel after running or other sports activity,” per the Mayo Clinic.
In terms of treatment, the clinic says most cases of Achilles tendinitis can be treated with at-home care under a doctor’s supervision. Icing the Achilles and using electrical stimulation could also help as it heals. However, more serious cases “can lead to tendon tears (ruptures) that may require surgical repair.”
The 49ers experienced this last season with linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who suffered from Achilles tendinitis toward the end of last regular season and then tore his Achilles while running onto the field during the Super Bowl.
Given that they just went through the worst-case scenario with Greenlaw, it’s understandable that the 49ers are being extremely cautious with McCaffrey to ensure that he doesn’t tear his Achilles.
Also, San Francisco has Super Bowl aspirations, so they’re more focused on having him at 100% for the second half of the campaign rather than rushing him back for an early-season contest.
Fantasy Outlook for McCaffrey and Jordan Mason
McCaffrey’s absence has certainly been frustrating for fantasy managers since he was the 1.01 draft pick in most fantasy drafts. The hope is that he will return in early November and look like his usual, dominant self.
If you’re confident in McCaffrey’s ability to bounce back and play well in the second half of the season, it can’t hurt to send an offer to the fantasy manager with McCaffrey stashed on their IR and see if you can acquire the best running back in the NFL for pennies on the dollar. Perhaps the recent report that McCaffrey is dealing with Achilles tendinitis in both legs will scare them enough to sell.
While McCaffrey is out, Jordan Mason is starting in his place. The fact that the 49ers have continued running the ball effectively with Mason in the starting lineup could allow the team to be even more patient when it comes to CMC’s recovery.
Through four weeks, Mason has rushed 91 times for 447 yards and three touchdowns while adding six receptions for 57 yards.
All reports suggest that this is Mason’s backfield for at least the next month, and nothing about his usage indicates that regression is coming our way.
Mason has finished three of four weeks this season as a top-12 running back, a streak he’ll have every chance to extend this week. No, he’s not McCaffrey, but he’s assumed a similar role, and CMC tore apart this vulnerable Cardinals defense almost exactly a year ago (Week 4, 2023: 27 touches, 177 yards, and four touchdowns).
In case you’ve been living under a rock – Mason is on pace for 2,142 yards if he holds this role for the remainder of the season.