SANTA CLARA – Running back Christian McCaffrey arrived at Levi’s Stadium well before his 49ers teammates on Sunday.

McCaffrey appears to be considering a return to action after the bye week. He missed most of training camp and the regular season opener before being placed on injured reserve with bilateral Achilles tendonitis.

The 49ers play the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and McCaffrey was at the 49ers’ home stadium at least five hours before kickoff. He was observed going to the team’s practice field and weight room, likely as part of his physical therapy routine.

Christian McCaffrey arrived at Levi’s Stadium well before him #49ers teammates for an early morning workout. He continues physical therapy for his bilateral Achilles tendonitis with an eye toward a return to action after the bye week.

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) October 20, 2024

On Friday, 49ers general manager John Lynch said on his KNBR radio segment that McCaffrey is “making incredibly good progress.”

“It’s all about ramping up, increasing activity and making sure there are no setbacks,” Lynch said. “I could just tell people he’s on the right track with that. No timelines or anything, but he’s still doing a little bit more.”

The 49ers will bye in Week 9 after their next two games: against Kansas City and the Dallas Cowboys. When the 49ers return from that pause, McCaffrey could be considered for return from injured reserve.

Lynch explained that McCaffrey’s physical therapy is staggered so he may receive more intense training followed by days of recovery to avoid the possibility of straining.

“If you can stack those (good days) up and not have any setbacks, that’s a good thing, and that’s kind of the direction he’s moving in,” Lynch said.

McCaffrey, known for his intense training habits, was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year last season. He rushed for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns while catching 67 passes for 564 yards and seven touchdowns.

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