Kyle Shanahan's clarification on Christian McCaffrey hammers home Jordan Mason's importance to 49ers
It's not new information that Christian McCaffrey is dealing with Achilles tendinitis. However, it somehow managed to fly under the radar this weekend that general manager John Lynch revealed the San Francisco 49ers running back has it in both legs. Lynch said in an interview with KNBR (h/t 49ers Webzone) on Friday that McCaffrey's condition […]
It's not new information that Christian McCaffrey is dealing with Achilles tendinitis. However, it somehow managed to fly under the radar this weekend that general manager John Lynch revealed the San Francisco 49ers running back has it in both legs.
Lynch said in an interview with KNBR (h/t 49ers Webzone) on Friday that McCaffrey's condition is bilateral Achilles tendinitis, but those comments only started to receive some attention on Monday.
San Francisco is hoping to this week ramp up McCaffrey's conditioning with a view to him returning to the field after he recently visited a specialist in Germany.
However, news of McCaffrey having the issue in both legs may dampen any optimism around the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, who is said to eyeing a return at least by early November.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan clarified the situation in his Monday conference call with local media.
"During the time, he's had it in both," Shanahan said. "I think it started in one. You get to overcompensate it, went to the other. But mainly, one of them has just been bothering him. But he's had it in both."
NFL Media's Ian Rapoport recently reported that it was his understanding McCaffrey's treatment went well.
Shanahan, though, would not be drawn on whether that was the case.
Asked if he had spoken to McCaffrey about his treatment, Shanahan replied: "No, I haven't."
Shanahan's comments suggest he does not feel any increased concern as a result of McCaffrey having the condition in both legs. Still, this latest piece of news around the 2023 rushing champion serves to hammer home the point that nobody can say with any certainty when he is going to return.
McCaffrey is dealing with an unpredictable injury and, while the 49ers clearly have some hope he can be ready for the stretch run, the best news for San Francisco pertaining to the run game is that Jordan Mason's huge step forward has been such that McCaffrey's absence hasn't impaired it much at all.
As the uncertainty around McCaffrey continues, the 49ers should be very thankful Mason has provided them a constant.
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