San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey remains on track to make his season debut against the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
That’s welcome news for the 49ers, who have managed a 4-4 record in his absence and come off a bye still as serious contenders to recapture the NFC West and vie for another Super Bowl appearance.
McCaffrey played just 10 combined games with Carolina in 2020 and 2021 but had been remarkably healthy since joining San Francisco in 2022, sitting out just one inconsequential game with a calf injury last season.
However, he has missed all of this season with calf and Achilles injuries and was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 14. McCaffrey traveled to Germany to visit a specialist on Sept. 22 for what was eventually diagnosed as bilateral Achilles tendinitis.
With his injury under control, McCaffrey began practicing on Monday, but the team has three weeks to activate him to the 53-man roster. That could come much sooner.
It’s unclear how much of the game plan would include the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Sunday. Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey experienced no pain after the Monday practice before working in a limited capacity on Wednesday. The running back would have to, the coach said, “string together three days in a row and not have any (setbacks) to be cleared to play.”
Shanahan expounded that he needed to see “that he’s just Christian McCaffrey and he’s not hurting.” A decision on whether McCaffrey will play might not be made until kickoff.
Jordan Mason has filled in amply at running back, ranking fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (685) with three touchdowns.
But McCaffrey adds another dimension behind quarterback Brock Purdy and a receiving corps depleted by injuries to Brandon Aiyuk (knee), who is out for the season, and Jauan Jennings (hip), who returned to practice this week. McCaffrey led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,023) and rushing yards (1,459) last season and tied for the lead in touchdowns (21).
His potential return complicates a massive matchup for Tampa Bay.
“It’s just another weapon we’ve got to worry about, along with him, Deebo (Samuel), George (Kittle), Purdy as well,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. “You’ve got to worry about five different guys, you can’t just worry about McCaffrey. We’ve got to be sound defensively, and everybody has to do their assignment because (the 49ers are) talented all over the field.”
If McCaffrey returns on Sunday, the season basically begins anew for the 49ers, who are just a half-game behind the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals (5-4).
Tampa Bay is completing a brutal back-to-back on a short week. The Buccaneers fell to 4-5 after a 30-24 overtime loss at Kansas City on Monday. Another defeat could drop the Bucs further behind the Atlanta Falcons (6-3) in the NFC South. Tampa Bay has lost three in a row and is off next week.
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield leads the NFL with 23 passing touchdowns and is second in passing yards with 2,389 despite numerous injuries to his wide receivers. Mike Evans (hamstring) has missed the past two games and Chris Godwin is on injured reserve with a season-ending ankle dislocation.
Mayfield said the key on Sunday will be working around a 49ers pass defense led by edge rusher Nick Bosa.
The emergence of tight end Cade Otton has been crucial to the Tampa Bay offense and could help offset San Francisco’s aggressive approach. The third-year tight end led the Buccaneers with eight receptions and 77 yards against the Chiefs, and he caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season.
On Sunday, Otton could become the second tight end in NFL history to produce eight or more catches in four consecutive games. Kansas City’s Travis Kelce holds the record, as he produced a seven-game streak in 2020.
“It’s all Cade,” Mayfield said. “(He’s) a special player that (is) so smart. He knows where to be, he knows exactly what we’re trying to get done within whatever scheme we’re calling, run or pass, and he understands everything.”
