The San Francisco 49ers are without running back Christian McCaffrey for at least four weeks.
A report from NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport indicates it could be longer than that.
Rapoport on Sunday morning reported McCaffrey is expected to be out at least six weeks — that would be at least two weeks beyond the mandated four-week absence when a player goes on Injured Reserve.
The 49ers officially placed McCaffrey on IR on Saturday. A four-week absence would make San Francisco’s Week 6 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks the earliest he could return. If McCaffrey is out six weeks it means his return would come against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8.
With a bye in Week 9, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the 49ers pushed him back to Week 10 just to ensure he has enough time off to stabilize a tricky Achilles tendinitis injury that has plagued him since Week 17 of last year.
Buried in Rapoport’s report was a sliver of good news.
He also said there’s not an increased risk of an Achilles tear, and that McCaffrey is out because his injury makes it difficult to play the running back position pain free.
It always seemed like an IR stint was coming for McCaffrey. Calf and Achilles injuries can linger and it makes more sense for the 49ers to sit him for a prolonged period now than increase the risk having him miss postseason games.
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