For the 49ers, missing running back Christian McCaffrey in Week 1 against the Jets wasn’t much of an issue. Backup Jordan Mason stepped up in a big way, rushing for 147 yards on 28 carries and scoring a touchdown, leading San Francisco to a dominant 32-19 victory.
There was some debate, however, regarding when the 49ers knew McCaffrey, sidelined with a calf injury, wouldn’t be available for the opener. Mason initially claimed after the game that he knew he was starting by Friday, but both he and the 49ers later walked back that statement. McCaffrey, on the other hand, revealed that he went to bed Sunday night hopeful that he’d be able to play.
When asked when he realized he couldn’t take the field, McCaffrey responded, “Monday morning. I prepare every week to play. My mindset is always that I’m going to play. There have been weeks where I don’t feel great during the week, but come game day, the body can do incredible things. This time, though, it was a group decision—a tough one.”
He added, “I hate not playing, but I view it as a strategic move, something that, hopefully, pays off in the long run.”
McCaffrey, who led the NFL in rushing yards last season with 1,459 and finished second in carries with 272, likely benefited from the early season rest. The 49ers have Super Bowl aspirations, and preserving McCaffrey’s health will be key to enduring the grind of the long season.
Despite the rest, McCaffrey told reporters on Wednesday that he intends to play in Week 2 against the Vikings. “Mentally, I always prepare to play,” McCaffrey said. “No matter what I’m going through during the week, my mentality is I’m playing. That’s how I approach every week. If a player starts questioning whether they’ll play, that’s not the right mindset. So I’m ready to go.”
While McCaffrey seems confident, outside reports suggest otherwise. ESPN’s Adam Schefter indicated that McCaffrey could miss Week 2, citing the short turnaround and the Vikings’ turf field as factors.
However, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan dismissed such reports, emphasizing that no decision has been made yet. “It’s amazing how some people seem to know things before we do,” Shanahan said after the team’s Week 1 win. “We only found out he wasn’t playing today, so I don’t know how anyone can say he won’t play next week.”
Of course, Shanahan’s comments might be part of a strategy to keep the Vikings guessing, forcing them to prepare for multiple scenarios. Whether or not McCaffrey suits up for Week 2 remains to be seen, but the 49ers are certainly hoping to have their star running back back in action.
