SANTA CLARA — The official injury report will be released by 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan Friday afternoon and may not have any immediate clarity regarding running back Christian McCaffrey.
General manager John Lynch said on his weekly radio appearance on KNBR-680 that all options will be considered and didn’t rule out a stint on injured reserve that would mean an absence of four more games. McCaffrey was a game day scratch in Monday night’s 32-19 win over the New York Jets.
The 49ers (1-0) visit the Minnesota Vikings (1-0) Sunday.
McCaffrey has a calf strain, but the bigger issue is an accompanying case of Achilles tendinitis that can fluctuate daily and usually requires rest as part of the treatment.
“If that’s the right thing, that’s what we’ll do,” Lynch said. “First, we’ll see how he’s doing today after getting a good work session in yesterday, see how he responds. All options, Kyle has said, are on the table. We’re going to do what’s right for Christian, what’s right for our team.”
Shanahan, who last spoke to the local media Wednesday, said injured reserve wasn’t yet a possibility.
“I’ve never considered that,” Shanahan said. “I considered playing him last week, so definitely not thinking about four weeks off.”
McCaffrey, for his part, said he will approach every week as if he’s going to play and has strayed from specifics regarding the injury.
“My mentality is that I’m playing this week,” McCaffrey said. “That’s where I’m at. That’s my mentality every week. I’m not lying. I think as a soon as a player says, `Maybe I’ll play, maybe I won’t’ that’s not a good mentality to go into the week with when you’re kind of on the fence. So for me, I’m ready to go.”
That determination will ultimately be made by the medical staff with the input of McCaffrey, Lynch and Shanahan.
McCaffrey was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday.
“It’s one of those deals that he can be feeling good one day and the next day it flares,” Lynch said. “So it’s been frustrating for Christian, I know, and frustrating for us only because h’s such a great player. Primary in our mind is the long view. Christian is such an elite player, he changes us.”
Without the NFL’s leading rusher in 2023, the 49ers dominated the Jets on the ground in Week 1, rushing for 180 yards on 38 attempts. Third-year back Jordan Mason had career highs with 28 rushes for 147 yards and a touchdown and the 49ers had a 38:40 to 21:20 advantage in time of possession.
“It’s nice to see we can function without him, function at a high level,” Lynch said.
It’s possible the 49ers could wait until Sunday before making the call on McCaffrey.
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In other developments, Lynch said safety Talanoa Hufanga has played with the scout team and has also begun working with the first team defense in preparation for his return from a torn ACL.
“Huf is getting there,” Lynch said. “We’ll see if we’re going to pull the trigger there. Do we cut him loose now or do we hold up? We’ll see, but very encouraged with the way he’s trending.”
Lynch also said defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, who missed Week 1 with a knee injury, could potentially play against Minnesota.
More to come with this breaking story . . .
