San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey is sidelined with a calf strain, which will prevent him from participating in practices for several weeks, as confirmed by head coach Kyle Shanahan. It’s also looking unlikely that he will see any action during the preseason, according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
In other news: The 49ers have not finalized a trade for Brandon Aiyuk, despite circulating reports.
#49ers RB Christian McCaffrey has a calf strain. He is unlikely to participate in this preseason, per Kyle Shanahan.
He’s likely to miss a couple of weeks of practice, also.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) August 6, 2024
Since joining the 49ers mid-season in 2022, McCaffrey has been a driving force in the team’s offense. His addition has transformed an already strong unit, leading the 49ers to impressive stats in the 2023 season, finishing with the second-best offense in total yards and third in rushing yards and points per game. That effort helped secure a 12-5 record and the top seed in the NFC, although they eventually fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
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McCaffrey, a standout from Stanford, started the 2023 season with a bang, rushing for over 100 yards in his first three games. His skills as both a runner and receiver were on full display, culminating in a spectacular four-touchdown game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4.
Throughout the first half of the season, McCaffrey maintained a remarkable streak, recording a touchdown in each of his first eight games. This performance broke Jerry Rice’s franchise record for consecutive games with touchdowns and tied the NFL record of 17, previously set by Lenny Moore, including postseason performances.
Christian McCaffrey’s 17th consecutive game with a TD, tying NFL record held by Baltimore Colts legend Lenny Moore.
B.J. Hill this past week on McCaffrey:” He’s the best back in the league.”pic.twitter.com/Me8ZHamBQl
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) October 29, 2023
With 272 carries for a league-leading 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 67 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns, McCaffrey amassed 2,023 total yards and 21 touchdowns from scrimmage. His stellar performance earned him the NFL Offensive Player of the Year title and a spot on the cover of “Madden 25.”
In other notes: Check out our Fantasy Football Rankings for the top 10 running backs in 2024.
Despite an injury-plagued past in his last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, McCaffrey has stayed relatively healthy with the 49ers. Currently, there are no signs that he will miss regular-season games, assuming there are no complications with his recovery. The 49ers kick off their season against the New York Jets on September 9 at Levi’s Stadium.