49ers’ Christian McCaffrey Insists He’s Ready To Play After Surprising Week 1 Absence

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey said Wednesday that he is expecting to play in Week 2 while recovering from Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey said something very similar before missing Week 1, and other reports have indicated that he is a long shot to start this weekend.

“My mentality is I’m playing,” McCaffrey told the San Francisco Chronicle. “That’s where I’m at. That’s how I am every week. I’m not lying. I think as soon as a player says, ‘You know, maybe I’ll play, maybe I won’t.’ That’s not a good mentality to go into a week with when you’re kind of on the fence. So I’m ready to go.”

McCaffrey’s optimism is encouraging from a long-term standpoint, but based on Week 1, it is hard to take the star rusher at his word. The three-time Pro-Bowler was fully expected to start throughout last weekend before suddenly appearing on the inactive list shortly before game time on Monday night.

The 49ers have actively pushed back against claims that they knew all along that McCaffrey wouldn’t be available, instead describing it as a game-time decision. Backup Jordan Mason, who rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown Monday, claimed that the team began preparing him to start on Friday, but head coach Kyle Shanahan explained that the staff simply asked him to be prepared.

In any case, it seems like the team is taking a similar approach in handling McCaffrey this week. Shanahan said that the team has not even begun to consider putting him on the injured reserve, indicating that he should be available by the end of the month.

As for Week 2, McCaffrey’s eagerness to play may conflict with San Francisco’s desire to preserve his long-term health. With Mason performing at a high level in his stead against the Jets, the team can likely afford to give McCaffrey more time to recuperate. Even when he does appear on the field, he may share snaps with Mason until he can confidently handle his usual workload.

The 49ers are heavily favored against the Vikings in Week 2 with or without McCaffrey. With another trip to the Super Bowl in the cards next year, it may be prudent for the team to wait until later in the season to get the most out of their 28-year-old backfield leader.