Christian McCaffrey expected to make season debut for 49ers this week

San Francisco 49ers All-Pro moving backmost Christian McCaffrey has looked bully successful his first week backmost astatine believe aft being sidelined by Achilles tendinitis and is connected way to make his play debut Sunday against Tampa Bay

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers All-Pro moving backmost Christian McCaffrey has looked bully successful his first week backmost astatine believe aft being sidelined by Achilles tendinitis and is connected way to make his play debut Sunday against Tampa Bay.

McCaffrey returned to believe connected Monday and has made it done 3 days of activity connected nan section without immoderate setbacks, starring coach Kyle Shanahan to opportunity he expects his prima backmost to play.

“He’s been awesome these past 2 days,” Shanahan told radio position KNBR connected Thursday. “You ne'er cognize (about) a setback aliases anything, but these 2 days person been great, and I expect to spot him retired there.”

McCaffrey has been dealing pinch Achilles tendinitis since early August. He missed almost each of training campy earlier returning to believe conscionable earlier nan play opener. He was scratched astatine nan past infinitesimal earlier that crippled against nan New York Jets connected Sept. 9 and past had a setback astatine believe Sept. 12.

He was placed connected injured reserve 2 days later and spent nan past 7 weeks resting and rehabilitating, including a trip to Germany for treatment.

The 49ers (4-4) are counting connected McCaffrey’s return for a second-half boost. San Francisco has sputtered successful nan first half of nan play pinch nan discourtesy scoring 3.9 less points per crippled than past season.

“It’s been awesome,” backmost Brock Purdy said of getting McCaffrey back. “Just what he brings to nan array and really conscionable firing everybody other up around. All of america coming disconnected nan bye week and emotion bully and caller and past you get (him) adjacent to you successful nan backfield, it’s been awesome. Looks awesome moving astir and he’s trending successful nan correct direction. So, we’re excited to spot what happens.”

Jordan Mason has done a bully occupation filling successful for McCaffrey pinch 685 yards rushing successful 8 games, but nan Niners person sorely missed nan reigning AP Offensive Player of nan Year in nan reddish zone and successful nan passing game.

McCaffrey led nan NFL past play pinch 2,023 yards from scrimmage and was tied for nan convention lead pinch 21 touchdowns arsenic he helped lead San Francisco to nan Super Bowl.

After missing 23 games because of injuries successful his last 2 afloat seasons pinch Carolina, McCaffrey had been patient nan past 2 seasons.

He missed only 1 crippled mixed successful 2022-23 — a meaningless Week 18 crippled past play for San Francisco erstwhile he had a sore calf. His 798 mixed touches from scrimmage successful nan regular play and playoffs were nan 3rd astir for immoderate subordinate successful a two-year span successful nan past 10 years.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL