SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers have placed All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve due to ongoing issues with his calf and Achilles tendon.
This decision, made Saturday, means McCaffrey will miss a minimum of four additional games after he had already been sidelined for the season opener. He could be eligible to return for the Thursday night matchup in Seattle on October 10.
McCaffrey initially sustained the injury early in training camp and was absent from practice for four weeks before making a limited return last week. He was ultimately a last-minute scratch for the season opener against the Jets and experienced renewed pain following Thursday’s practice, leading to his current sidelining.
Last season, McCaffrey led the NFL in scrimmage yards with 2,023 and was tied for the most touchdowns at 21, earning the AP Offensive Player of the Year title.
In McCaffrey’s absence, backup Jordan Mason stepped up impressively, recording 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown during San Francisco’s 32-19 win over the New York Jets. Mason is expected to start again on Sunday against Minnesota.
After struggling with injuries during his final two full seasons with Carolina, which led him to miss 23 games, McCaffrey had been healthy in the two previous seasons with the 49ers. He missed just one game combined in 2022 and 2023, which occurred during a non-critical Week 18 game due to a sore calf. His 798 combined touches from scrimmage in the regular season and playoffs over the last two years rank as the third highest of any player in the past decade.
With McCaffrey out, the 49ers will increasingly depend on Mason, who is a former undrafted free agent from Georgia Tech, having had 83 carries in his first two seasons. Before the recent season opener, Mason had only seen at least 10 touches in two games. His 28 carries in that game marked the highest for a 49ers player in a regular-season game since Frank Gore had 31 against Seattle on October 30, 2011.
The team also has fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. available on the active roster. Guerendo had three offensive snaps without touches in the opener, while Taylor compiled 65 carries for Green Bay from 2021 to 2023.
Additionally, San Francisco has elevated safety Tracy Walker III from the practice squad for their game against Minnesota on Sunday.