Christian McCaffrey injury update as San Francisco 49ers make decision on star

The San Francisco 49ers have opened the practice window for star running back Christian McCaffrey, who has missed the entire 2024 NFL season due to injury

Christian McCaffrey, the star running back for the San Francisco 49ers, is gearing up for a much-anticipated return to the field as the team has ramped up activity ahead of the latter stages of the 2024 NFL season.

The 49ers sparked excitement on Monday by kicking off the practice window for McCaffrey, signalling potential availability for Week 10's showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The reigning Offensive Player of the Year has been out of action all season, undergoing a strenuous rehab journey from lower leg injuries. Expectations for McCaffrey's debut were high, but he was forced to sit out the Week 1 game versus the New York Jets and then found himself on the injury reserve list following Week 2.

During his quest for recovery, McCaffrey even sought treatment in Germany for his Achilles tendinitis and calf issues. Social media buzzed with clips showcasing him getting reacquainted with the 49ers' facilities, indicating progress as he performed exercises and football drills, albeit at a cautious pace.

Despite this slow-burn return, his week 10 appearance against the Buccaneers had been anticipated, following insights shared by Adam Schefter, ESPN's renowned NFL insider. Only last week, during 'The Pat McAfee Show,' Schefter shared an optimistic update regarding the timing of McCaffrey's return to peak performance.

"Here, as of right now, might be the first positive Christian McCaffrey injury update of the entire season," Schefter said. "So far, he has not had any setbacks during his recovery.

"I don't want to jynx this, right, knock on wood, I don't want to jynx this, but he has not had any setbacks and he has looked strong and right now, he's poised to get back, I think, after their bye and play against the Buccaneers."

Despite the positive update, Schefter made it clear that McCaffrey's return is dependent on if he experiences a setback of some kind. "Now, now again, hold on," the ESPN insider continued, which led to muted responses from McAfee and others in the studio.

"We thought he was going to play in the opener and all of a sudden, that Friday before, setback. But I think we could say it this way: Right now, he is tracking to playing against the Buccaneers."

Schefter's update is in line with what 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters during a conference call on Oct. 28.

In particular, Shanahan emphasized how McCaffrey's status hinges on his seeing how the star responds to practice after being off the field for such a long time. "It depends on how this week goes," Shanahan said at the time. "He's had no setbacks, so it looks like we're on track."

Additionally, Shanahan explained that once McCaffrey can play, he will be limited. "The expectation is we'll see how he is when he gets back and then evaluate him as he goes," San Francisco's head coach said.

"Of course, the hope is that everything just goes back to normal (and is) perfect. That's what we're all striving for. But we've got to play that out smartly and evaluate that each day - what we see with our own eyes, what he tells us. That will be something we're constantly working through."