LANDOVER, MARYLAND — Christian McCaffrey said that a right-calf strain that injured him late in the third quarter of the 49ers’ 27-10 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday will not jeopardise his postseason availability.
“I have no idea what happened. “It was nothing major,” McCaffrey remarked. “I was just having a hard time for a little bit just pushing off, and for precautionary reasons, they said, ‘You’d be better to just rest it.'”
McCaffrey will almost certainly sit out the regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams and then use the wild-card bye week to rest.
“He was moving around alright on the sideline, so we’re hoping it’s not too bad, but we won’t know until (Monday),” said coach Kyle Shanahan of a possible injury.
Not only have the 49ers (12-4) won the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, but McCaffrey’s 1,459 running yards should ensure him the team’s first NFL rushing title since Joe “The Jet” Perry in 1954. McCaffrey leads the Rams’ Kyren Williams by 315 yards.
For the second time in his career, McCaffrey has over 2,000 yards from scrimmage (564 receiving). In 2019, he totaled 2,392 yards (369 more than this year), including over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving. McCaffrey joins Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk as the only players in NFL history to have over 2,000-yard seasons with two different teams.
He exited the game in the third quarter on Sunday after first utilising a therapeutic massage gun on his left leg and then leaving the same drive with a right-calf problem. He attempted to return, but running backs coach Bobby Turner kept him on the bench as Elijah Mitchell scored on a 2-yard run to give the team a 20-10 lead.
“We just made the smart move,” said McCaffrey, who finished with 64 yards rushing (14 carries) and 27 yards receiving (four catches). “I didn’t want to go in there and make things worse, especially since I didn’t know what was going to happen next week.”
“With certain things, you can’t be dumb about it,” the Stanford product continued.
When McCaffrey and the 49ers walked inside their locker room, they were surprised but excited.
“That means everything, so shout out to the Cardinals, man, I really appreciate you guys.” “That was enormous,” McCaffrey remarked. “We all require (rest).” I know I require it. So I’m looking forward to taking a deep breath and getting everything back to normal.”
The 49ers became the only team in NFL history to have four 1,000-yard receivers: a running back (McCaffrey), two wide receivers (Brandon Aiyuk; 1,317 yards) and a tight end (George Kittle; 1,022 yards).
After travelling to Eastern Time Zone games this season, McCaffrey is pleased to avoid any more long trips, adding, “It’s not nothing. It’s certainly not nothing.”
Mitchell filled in brilliantly, rushing for 80 yards and scoring his first touchdown.
