Bucs get hit with a dose of bad news that they can't control ahead of clash with San Francisco 49ers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had just a brutal stretch over the last several weeks. Matchups with former league MVPs Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson resulted in losses. The Bucs defense made Kirk Cousins look like a league MVP twice during that stretch, including allowing 509 yards to the veteran signal caller. Now, the Bucs […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had just a brutal stretch over the last several weeks. Matchups with former league MVPs Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson resulted in losses. The Bucs defense made Kirk Cousins look like a league MVP twice during that stretch, including allowing 509 yards to the veteran signal caller.
Now, the Bucs will take on the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, and it will be a Niners team getting a massive boost this week.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told KNBR radio on Thursday that RB Christian McCaffrey is expected to make his season debut this weekend in Tampa.
It goes without saying that the 49ers become a different challenge for a reeling Buccaneer defense with McCaffrey in the backfield. The San Francisco superstar has missed the Niners' first eight games of the season while dealing with an Achilles injury for which he sought a consult from an expert on Achilles injuries in Germany.
McCaffrey has feasted on the Bucs in each of the previous two seasons. In a 35-7 win in 2022, McCaffrey totaled 119 rushing yards on 14 carries with a score while adding 34 yards on 2 catches and another touchdown. He wasn't quite as explosive last year in a 27-14 San Francisco win, but he still managed to eclipse 100 yards from scrimmage with 78 yards on 21 carries and 25 yards on 5 catches with a touchdown.
It will be interesting to see if the Niners limit his workload at all, and what kind of game shape he will be in, given he has played a game since the Super Bowl last year. However, with the way the NFL's elite has carved up Todd Bowles' defense over the last five weeks, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him have a strong debut to his 2024 season.
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