Late last week, McCaffrey told reporters he expected to play on Monday night against the New York Jets, which made his last-minute inactive status surprising. Before Wednesday's practice, McCaffrey explained why he didn't suit up despite sounding confident just days earlier. He shared that he didn't realize he wouldn't play until Monday morning.
"I prepare every week to play," McCaffrey said. "My mindset every week is I'm going to play. There's been weeks where I'll go the full week, not even feeling good enough to do the walkthrough, and then I wake up, and the body's capable of a lot of cool things. Mentally, I'm always prepared to play, and then woke up (on Monday), and it was a group decision, a very tough one.
"I hate not playing, but I look at it as a chess move, something that, hopefully, we can benefit from the rest of the season."
He also clarified that his current injury is unrelated to the one he sustained in Week 17 last season, saying, "It's just something I'm dealing with, that I'll get right."
As for Week 2, McCaffrey's mindset is the same—he's preparing to play against the Minnesota Vikings, though his status is still up in the air.
"My mindset is I'm gonna play no matter what I'm going through physically on Wednesday or Thursday in practice," McCaffrey said. "And on the game day, you've gotta make a decision. ... My mentality is I'm playing this week. That's where I'm at.
"That's how I am every week. I'm not lying. I think as soon as a player says, 'Maybe I'll play, maybe I won't,' that's not a good mentality to go into a week with when you're kind of on the fence. So, for me, I'm ready to go."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Christian McCaffrey offers positive injury recovery update
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey appeared in only four games this season. He missed the first eight due to Achilles tendinitis and the last five after suffering a PCL injury. McCaffrey expects to be ready for next season and is eager to return to his NFL... -
Kyle Shanahan handed over 49ers' play-calling duties against Cardinals
The San Francisco 49ers offense racked up 436 total yards on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium despite falling 47-24 in their season finale. It marked the team's fifth-highest yardage total this season. Their 298 passing yards were the fourth-most in... -
Will Brock Purdy hold out if negotiations stall? The 49ers QB weighs in
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy recently expressed his desire to finalize a contract extension quickly to avoid offseason distractions. However, all of that is in the hands of his agent and the 49ers, with previous standoffs a reminder of how these talks can stretch... -
49ers vs. Cardinals injury updates: Guerendo, Mustapha, Hufanga ruled out
The San Francisco 49ers entered Sunday's season finale against the Arizona Cardinals with a depleted roster. Quarterback Josh Dobbs took the reins in place of Brock Purdy, who is sidelined with a right elbow contusion and nerve inflammation sustained during last week's matchup...