The San Francisco 49ers have been without star running back Christian McCaffrey all season, and fans are anxiously awaiting his return from an Achilles injury. McCaffrey has now missed the first seven games, and it seems he won’t be back in action against the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday night.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that McCaffrey will not participate in practice this week, officially ruling him out for the crucial matchup. “It’s not this week, so hopefully, it will be next week,” Shanahan said, hinting at a possible return in Week 10 after the team’s bye. If McCaffrey can get through next week’s practices without setbacks, he could be ready to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 2023, McCaffrey was a standout player, leading the league in rushing yards, total yards from scrimmage, and touchdowns, earning the title of Offensive Player of the Year. However, his current struggle with Achilles tendonitis has been linked to overtraining. His father, former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, emphasized this point, saying, “Tendinitis is an over-training injury, meaning you’re training too hard or doing too much, and it turns into tendinitis. If I would say that Christian has a weakness, it’s that he sometimes has to protect himself from himself, in terms of training too much and doing too much.”
As the 49ers gear up for a tough schedule that includes the Cowboys, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Packers, Bills, Bears, and Lions, McCaffrey’s return becomes even more critical. His presence is especially needed, as he is one of ten 49ers currently on injured reserve. For a team with championship aspirations, getting their offensive star back on the field can’t come soon enough.
