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Christian McCaffrey out for 49ers vs. Jets in NFL Week 1 with calf, Achilles injuries | News, scores, highlights, stats & rumors

Vaseline September 9, 2024

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 11: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Focus on Sports/Getty Images

After remaining largely injury-free in the 2023 season, Christian McCaffrey will miss Monday night’s season opener.

The San Francisco 49ers star was among the players who were not active for a showdown with the New York Jets:

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport previously reported that McCaffrey would not play due to injuries to his calf and Achilles tendon:

Mike Garafolo @MikeGarafolo

A surprise: #49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is inactive tonight against the #Fighter Jetssources tell me and @RapSheet. McCaffrey was listed as questionable after being limited in practice last week with calf/Achilles injuries. McCaffrey had expressed confidence he would play. photo.twitter.com/rLQMXVU3nR

McCaffrey struggled with injuries during the off-season, missing most of training camp and the entire pre-season with injuries to his calf and Achilles tendon.

While he didn’t suffer any serious injuries in 2023, he did miss the Niners’ season finale with a minor calf injury, but that was mostly a precaution to ensure he was well-rested for the playoffs.

The last time McCaffrey suffered a serious injury was in 2021, when he missed five games with a hamstring injury and then the rest of the season with a sprained ankle in Week 12. He played in just seven games that season.

In 2020, he played only three games due to various injuries.

Since arriving in San Francisco in 2022, McCaffrey has stayed healthy and performed well. He had the best season of his career last year, with 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 564 receiving yards and seven touchdowns through the air.

The MVP-worthy year earned the 49ers a spot in the Super Bowl, though they fell short in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs.

San Francisco was already short-staffed in the running back room when Elijah Mitchell entered the year suffered a hamstring injuryending his season before it began. Mitchell was the 49ers’ second-leading rusher last year, with 281 yards and two touchdowns.

With McCaffrey out injured, San Francisco could turn to third-year player Jordan Mason in the backfield. Mason had 206 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries in 2023.