As the San Francisco 49ers enjoy a bye week, running back Christian McCaffrey is working on his recovery from Achilles tendinitis, a condition that has kept him out for the first eight games of the season. McCaffrey will stay in the Bay Area for what coach Kyle Shanahan called “simulated practice” as he targets a return to team practice on November 4. This approach is intended to gauge his readiness to fully rejoin team activities, with Shanahan expressing cautious optimism based on McCaffrey’s progress and lack of setbacks thus far.
McCaffrey’s injury was initially reported in August as a calf issue but later revealed to involve Achilles tendinitis, prompting the 49ers to place him on injured reserve on September 14. This decision, while difficult, allowed McCaffrey time to focus on recovery without the pressure of weekly play. Since then, he’s had treatment, including a consultation with a specialist in Germany in late September. The team has been hopeful that this focused period of rest and gradual return to activity will allow McCaffrey to come back fully prepared.
Once McCaffrey returns to practice, the 49ers will have a 21-day period to decide if he can be activated to the main roster or if he needs to stay on IR for the rest of the season. Shanahan is hopeful McCaffrey might be ready by the November 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but McCaffrey’s workload upon his return will depend on his practice performance. The coaching staff will closely monitor his physical condition and feedback as they plan his reintegration into gameplay.
The 49ers are also managing several other injuries during the bye week, including key players like receiver Deebo Samuel, running back Jordan Mason, and cornerback Renardo Green. Samuel and Mason will be reevaluated after the bye, while Green is considered day-to-day. Receiver Jauan Jennings, who missed two games with a hip injury, is expected to return against the Buccaneers, adding to the depth of the team’s offensive options as McCaffrey and others continue to recover.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw remains out with a torn Achilles suffered in Super Bowl LVIII, and his return to practice will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis post-bye. Shanahan has refrained from setting a strict timetable for Greenlaw’s return but anticipates further clarity in the coming weeks. The 49ers’ cautious approach aims to ensure all players, particularly those recovering from major injuries like McCaffrey and Greenlaw, can contribute fully to the team’s success as they progress through the season.
