Christian McCaffrey injury update: Adam Schefter provides latest on 49ers RB’s potential return

The San Francisco 49ers bye week gave several of their players some much-needed rest. Also serving as a potential opportunity for star running back Christian McCaffrey to further rehab and potentially make his first appearance of the season.

McCaffrey has been sidelined for the entire season with bilateral Achilles tendonitis after being named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year last season. But on Monday, NFL insider Adam Schefter revealed what he’s heard (or has not heard) that makes him confident that McCaffrey could return for the 49ers’ Week 10 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday.

“I would say it’s what I haven’t heard. I haven’t heard a single setback, I haven’t heard that there’s been any issues, I haven’t heard that there’s any complication,” Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show. “So, as long as there is no red flags and that continues on, then I would think that he’s going to play on Sunday against the Buccaneers as long as there’s no setbacks.”

A healthy McCaffrey returning to the lineup for San Fransisco would be paramount as they currently sit at 4-4 in a tight NFC West Division race. They still rank second in the NFL in yards per game and top five in rushing and passing despite the engine of their offense not playing in a single game this season.

“For all I know he was running yesterday and felt something, like I haven’t heard any of that so far,” Schefter clarified. “That’s my point.”

McCaffrey’s injury status was downplayed entering the season, eventually placed on the injured reserve after missing Week 1 and even seeing a specialist in Germany last month regarding his Achilles issues. But it now sounds like his return will bee sooner than later after rushing for 1,459 yards, racking up 564 receiving yards, and scoring 21 total touchdowns last season.

“We all want that, we’d love to see that, and it would be great. Again, I haven’t heard anything to make me think that he won’t be back, but there’s still six days till Sunday,” Schefter concluded.