placeholder image

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports


Christian McCaffrey sends clear message about 49ers vs. Jets status

Sep 7, 2024 at 7:15 AM

Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.

Christian McCaffrey left no room for doubt when asked about his status for Monday night's matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets: the star running back expects to play.

McCaffrey has been limited in practice for the past two days, with the 49ers holding their third and final—and typically lighter—practice on Saturday afternoon. Calf and Achilles issues sidelined him for much of training camp and the entire preseason. However, when asked if there was any doubt in his mind about his Week 1 availability, McCaffrey simply replied, "Nope."

Coming off a stellar 2023 season in which he earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors with a league-leading 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 total touchdowns, McCaffrey has high expectations for 2024. Still, he remains focused on the present.

RELATED Lynch: 49ers confident McCaffrey will be 'ready to roll' against Jets

"I think it's just taking it one play at a time," McCaffrey said about his mindset for the upcoming season. "I don't like to look at what's ahead. Each play has a life of its own, and just do what you have to do on each play, take care of the things that you can control, and then go from there and see what happens."

Tight end George Kittle, McCaffrey's teammate and one of his biggest fans, was also asked about the expectations for the star playmaker this season.

"Whatever his expectations are for himself, which I know are very high," Kittle responded. "He has an incredibly high standard for himself. He takes this incredibly seriously. Every time [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] talks about him, he gives him his flowers about how hard he works, how meticulous he is, how hard he is on himself 24/7. And so, I believe that Christian's going to have another great year."

Kittle mentioned an anonymous MVP poll circulating among players. While Kittle wanted to vote for McCaffrey, the rules prohibited teammates from voting for each other. Still, he added, "But Christian is going to have another fantastic football season."

RELATED Shanahan sounds confident McCaffrey will play vs. Jets

Though McCaffrey's Achilles injury was only recently reported, it stems from the same issue that kept him out earlier. The added specificity is due to the NFL's stricter injury report requirements now that the regular season is underway.

When asked if he had any concerns about his Achilles, McCaffrey quickly replied, "Not a concern for me, no."

What does McCaffrey expect for Monday night's game against the Jets? Does he anticipate handling his usual heavy workload? Last season, McCaffrey played 81 percent of the 49ers' offensive snaps, exceeding 85 percent in nine games.

"I hope so," McCaffrey said.

While Shanahan expressed confidence that McCaffrey will play, he was less certain when asked if the running back would return to his usual form after missing so much time.

"We'll see," Shanahan said Friday during a radio interview. "Anytime someone's been out for a while, you always got to be careful with him, and we're evaluating each practice. ... Christian's been through this stuff before, and I know he'll be out there on Monday, and we'll see how that game goes."

Related News

Enjoy this article? Follow us to never miss more!

Powered by Follow.it


Comments

More San Francisco 49ers News

placeholder image

49ers send clear message on roster by not making a blockbuster trade

By David Bonilla
Nov 5

The San Francisco 49ers made a late addition before the NFL trade deadline, acquiring defensive tackle Khalil Davis from the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round draft pick. While not a blockbuster move, it reflects the team's confidence that key reinforcements...


placeholder image

"All signs point to him playing": What McCaffrey told Sherman about 49ers-Buccaneers game status

By David Bonilla
Nov 7

The San Francisco 49ers are hopeful that star running back Christian McCaffrey will return to the field this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, aiming to spark a team that currently holds a 4-4 record as it enters the second half of the season. According to former NFL...


placeholder image

Brock Purdy, 49ers coaches offer insight on Christian McCaffrey's return

By David Bonilla
Nov 7

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is poised to make his 2024 season debut after an extended recovery from Achilles tendinitis. His return could come as soon as this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and anticipation is high among teammates, coaches,...


placeholder image

49ers vs. Buccaneers injury report: Christian McCaffrey remains limited; 3 players miss practice

By David Bonilla
Nov 7

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for Sunday's Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. On Thursday, two players—wide receiver Deebo Samuel and running back Jordan Mason—practiced in blue no-contact jerseys....


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone