The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for their 2024 season opener on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets. With stars on both teams, the game is expected to be one of the highlights of Week 1. However, the 49ers listed their star running back, Christian McCaffrey, on the injury report Thursday due to a calf/Achilles issue.
McCaffrey initially strained his calf early in the preseason, forcing him to sit out much of the preparation period. While he returned to practice this week, the 49ers have limited his participation to ensure he’s ready for the game. This cautious approach reflects the team’s priority of keeping him healthy for the long term, despite expectations that he will play on Monday night.
McCaffrey is coming off an outstanding season, where he rushed for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns and added 67 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns. Though his career has been marred by injuries, he remains one of the NFL’s top running backs when healthy. The 49ers hope to avoid exacerbating his current injury by managing his workload early in the season.
While McCaffrey is expected to play against the Jets, the 49ers may limit his snaps as a precaution. The team remains optimistic that McCaffrey will have a significant impact on their offense throughout the game, even with a potentially lighter workload. By taking a conservative approach now, the 49ers aim to ensure he’s in top shape for the rest of the season.
Overall, the 49ers are confident McCaffrey will be ready for Monday night, but his limited participation in practice shows the team’s commitment to managing his health carefully. Despite the injury, McCaffrey is poised to continue being a major contributor to San Francisco’s offense as they kick off their season.
