The San Francisco 49ers are hoping to have Christian McCaffrey make his 2024 debut in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and recent updates suggest he’s on track to play.
It was a surprise when McCaffrey, the All-Pro running back, was inactive for the 49ers’ Week 1 Monday Night Football game against the New York Jets. Although McCaffrey had missed the preseason due to Achilles issues, the situation worsened, eventually landing him on injured reserve.
This left the 49ers in a bit of a bind, though third-year running back Jordan Mason stepped up and performed admirably in McCaffrey’s absence. Still, Mason couldn’t replicate McCaffrey’s playmaking ability, and San Francisco’s offense, particularly in the red zone, suffered without him.
Leading up to the season’s midpoint, there was optimism about McCaffrey’s recovery, with reports suggesting he could return after the bye week. His practice window was opened with the expectation that he could be activated in time for the Week 10 matchup against the Buccaneers.
So, will McCaffrey be ready to play?
While activating McCaffrey from injured reserve doesn’t automatically mean he’ll play in Week 10, all signs point to him suiting up for the game. Both head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have been optimistic about his progress. Shanahan mentioned on KNBR 680 that McCaffrey had looked great in practice leading up to the game.
He’s been awesome these last two days,” Shanahan said. “So hopefully, that continues to go well, and I expect to get him out there.”
Lynch echoed the same sentiment, saying McCaffrey had responded well to practice and looked “terrific.” He expressed hope that McCaffrey would be available to play against Tampa Bay.
Of course, there’s always a possibility of a setback, and McCaffrey will need to be cleared before the final inactive players are announced 90 minutes before kickoff. However, based on recent reports and comments, it seems highly likely McCaffrey will make his 2024 debut against the Buccaneers.
The 49ers and Buccaneers will kick off at 1 p.m. ET on November 10 at Raymond James Stadium.
