The 49ers won't have their top offensive weapon for the second straight week. Christian McCaffrey was ruled out of Sunday's 49ers vs Vikings game with lingering effects from the calf and achilles issues that caused him to miss the season opener against the Jets.
McCaffrey practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday, but didn't get on the field Friday. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan even floated the idea that McCaffrey could end up on Injured Reserve if the issue becomes worse.
"It's something we're considering now," Shanahan told reporters Friday. "Yesterday was his worst day. It's on and off, but with yesterday having the most pain, it's something we're going to be discussing in the next 24 hours."
Kyle Shanahan says the team is considering putting Christian McCaffrey on IR. CMC is dealing with a calf injury and Achilles tendonitis. pic.twitter.com/5pG2F1LkH6
— Kirsten Moran-Kellar (@kirstenlizmoran) September 13, 2024
The news had a signifiant impact on the spread for Sunday's game. The consensus line for the 49ers vs Vikings spread was 49ers -5.5 before the news that McCaffrey would sit. Immediately after the news broke, the consensus line was down to Niners -4.5.
If McCaffrey does go on IR this week, he would be forced to miss the Niners' next four games: at the Rams (Week 3), vs. the Patriots (Week 4) and vs. Cardinals (Week 5). If his injury extends beyond that, he could potentially miss a Super Bowl 58 rematch against the Chiefs in Week 7.
Jordan Mason, who had a career night in McCaffrey's place in Week 1, will get the start Sunday and oddsmakers at Bet365 are bullish on his chances to have a repeat performance. Mason is -150 to score a touchdown Sunday, the shortest odds of any player listed. Mason's rushing yards prop is listed at 69.5 yards — also the highest of any player in the game at the time of writing — 10 yards higher than where his rushing yards prop line closed before Week 1.
