49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) misses win over Jets

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — After saying Friday he had no doubt he would play, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey missed Monday night’s 32-19 season-opening victory over the New York Jets.

McCaffrey has been dealing with a calf and Achilles injury since the start of training camp. Coach Kyle Shanahan announced the issues on Aug. 6. Shanahan said McCaffrey would be out for a few weeks and not participate in the preseason. McCaffrey was expected to be back in time for Monday’s game, however.

McCaffrey even said Friday that he hoped to be able to work as usual. And general manager John Lynch told KNBR radio Friday morning that McCaffrey would be “on the field and ready to play.” But even after participating in limited capacity in four practices this week, McCaffrey was listed against the Jets about 90 minutes before the game as one of their six inactive players (plus the third emergency quarterback). The Niners listed McCaffrey as doubtful against the Jets even after teammates and coaches expressed optimism that he would play and contribute at anything close to his usual level.

“He looks like Christian to me,” running game coordinator Chris Foerster said Friday. “You have to practice, so guys that haven’t practiced, I don’t want to say they’re rusty, but there’s always a little something that goes on just because they haven’t done it every day. There’s just that hard work every day, day in and day out. But he looks good.”

McCaffrey suffered a similar injury late last season. He suffered the injury in a Week 17 win over the Washington Commanders and then sat out a non-conclusive Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Rams. He returned for the NFC Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers about three weeks after that initial injury. Shanahan said Saturday that the injury McCaffrey is dealing with is similar to that one.

Before returning to practice Tuesday, McCaffrey appeared to be moving well during practice, and he said he felt “a lot better” when speaking to reporters Friday.

McCaffrey is the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year after recording 1,459 rushing yards, 564 receiving yards and 21 total touchdowns in 2023.

Without McCaffrey, Jordan Mason made his first career start. The former undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech more than made up for it, rushing for 147 yards on 28 carries and scoring a touchdown.

Veteran Patrick Taylor Jr. and rookie Isaac Guerendo were the team’s other active running backs Monday night, but neither recorded a carry.

Elijah Mitchell, the team’s backup running back last season, is on injured reserve and out for the remainder of the year with a hamstring injury.