Christian McCaffrey injury update: NFL Network insider reveals 49ers RB's timetable for return to play

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is “likely” to miss six or more weeks of action, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

He is dealing with painful achilles tendinitous, according to the report. McCaffrey was placed on the 49ers injured reserve ahead of the team’s Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

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“It is described to me as frustrating and difficult,” Rapoport said on the NFL Network on Sunday. “Difficult to run, certainly difficult to get rid of. He is not at more of a risk of tearing his achilles, but from my understanding is that he is likely to be out six weeks or more. That means [Jordan] Mason, the preseason MVP for the 49ers is going to get a ton of touches.”

Mason impressive in McCaffrey’s absence. During the season opener against the New York Jets, hetook 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown in the victory to lead the 49ers running game.

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For McCaffrey, the former Stanford star is coming off of a 2023 season with 1,459 rushing yards (a career-high) and 14 touchdowns. As a receiver, he also hauled in 564 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. McCaffrey won the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award for his performance and helped San Francisco advance to a Super Bowl appearance.

Earlier this week, McCaffrey, who has missed extensive time since 2020 nursing various injuries, explained his mindset when injuries force him to the sidelines.

“I prepare every week to play. My mindset every week is I want to play,” McCaffrey said after being a late scratch in Week 1, per Sports Illustrated. “There have been weeks where I’ll go the full week not even feeling good enough to do the walk-through, and then I wake up and my body is capable of a lot of cool things.

“Mentally, I’m always prepared to play in the game. But it was a group decision, a very tough one. I hate not playing. I look at it as a chess move and something that hopefully we can benefit from the rest of the season.”

For now, it appears as though McCaffrey will be eying a return in mid-to-late October barring any setbacks. That appears to be at the right time for the team as the 49ers will take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20 and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football the following week with both matchups being at home.