The San Francisco 49ers enter Sunday's Super Bowl rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs at .500, certainly not where they hoped to be heading into Week 7. However, there's no sense of urgency to bring back their best offensive playmaker—running back Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey remains on injured reserve as he recovers from calf and Achilles tendinitis issues. There was a report that he could return as early as this week, but that didn't happen. Although eligible to return, the 49ers have yet to open his practice window, signaling their priority on McCaffrey's long-term health over any immediate gains.
NBC Sports Bay Area's 49ers insider Matt Maiocco recently joined The Rich Eisen Show to discuss McCaffrey's timeline for return, referencing the team's upcoming schedule. San Francisco will host the Chiefs this weekend and the Dallas Cowboys the following week before a bye week. Maiocco suggested that the bye might offer an ideal time to open McCaffrey's practice window, allowing him to benefit from the extended break.
"He went to Germany for some treatment," Maiocco shared with Eisen. "He seems to be responding well to that. But ... it's not about this game or the next game. They want him ready to go late in the season, and they need him at his best—again, assuming that they make the playoffs—they want him at his best then.
"In the meantime, the 49ers have gotten really good production out of Jordan Mason. So, there's no big hurry to rush him back out on the field. When he comes back, they want him back for the long haul. That's the key to this, is not to rush him back, and make sure that he's ready to go for considerable weeks and through the rest of the season when he gets back on the field."
Mason's status for the Chiefs game is still uncertain after he exited last week's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks with an AC joint sprain. While he has practiced this week, he's been limited and wearing a blue no-contact jersey.
The setback isn't expected to be a long-term concern. Still, it highlights depth concerns, as rookie Isaac Guerendo and veteran Patrick Taylor are the only other running backs on the active roster.
