The San Francisco 49ers face a potential setback as running back Christian McCaffrey has been added to the injury report ahead of their upcoming game against the Tennessee Titans. His inclusion raises questions about his availability due to a back issue.
McCaffrey’s Injury Status
Despite being listed as questionable, sources indicate that McCaffrey is expected to play on Sunday. This information was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The running back took a veteran’s rest during practice on Wednesday, claiming he felt “rested and recovered.” However, he was limited in Thursday’s practice due to illness before returning as a full participant on Friday.
Coaching Remarks
Head coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned on Friday that while McCaffrey wasn’t feeling well earlier, he appeared to be in good shape during practice. This improvement suggests that the back issue may have arisen after Friday’s session or on Saturday prior to the injury report release.
Impact on the Team
If McCaffrey cannot play, Brian Robinson would likely assume the starting running back position. Isaac Guerendo and rookie Jordan James would also be candidates for backup roles. Notably, Guerendo has yet to see any offensive snaps this season, primarily participating in special teams. Meanwhile, James has not been active in any games so far.
Coaching Insights on Roster Decisions
Shanahan expressed confidence in Robinson’s performance, noting that he has been consistently impressive in recent games. He also indicated that while James has been improving, the team can only utilize a limited number of players on offense, which complicates roster decisions.
McCaffrey’s Season Performance
This season, McCaffrey has been instrumental for the 49ers, contributing to their solid record of 9-4. He currently ranks third in the NFL with 1,655 scrimmage yards and fourth with 14 total touchdowns. Furthermore, he is on pace to potentially become the first player in league history to achieve over 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards multiple times in a single season.
- Team: San Francisco 49ers
- Opponent: Tennessee Titans
- Record: 9-4 this season
- Scrimmage Yards: 1,655 (3rd in NFL)
- Total Touchdowns: 14 (4th in NFL)
