The 49ers are playing their first road game of the 2024 season on Sunday, seeking their first road win over the Minnesota Vikings in 32 years.
They will be without Christian McCaffrey, who landed on injured reserve Saturday with Achilles tendonitis and will miss the team’s next four games. Jordan Mason, the star of the 49ers’ season-opening win Monday night over the Jets, is expected to again take over the biggest ballcarrying burden.
Facing the Niners at Minnesota’s U.S. Bank Stadium will be Sam Darnold, who backed up Brock Purdy on the 49ers’ roster last year and signed with the Vikings in the offseason. He was already set to start the season ahead of rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy on the depth chart when McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee last month.
Darnold led the Vikings to a 28-6 romp over the New York Giants on the road in Week 1.
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The 49ers will have to make up for McCaffrey’s absence on offense while they’ll look to slow down Minnesota’s star wideout Justin Jefferson and new running back Aaron Jones. Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million deal in the offseason after the 49ers and other teams reportedly expressed interest in acquiring him via trade. That contract preceded Brandon Aiyuk’s four-year, $120 million deal with the 49ers by about two months.
Charvarius Ward will have the primary assignment to slow down the Darnold-Jefferson connection.
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