The San Francisco 49ers are on the verge of getting running back Christian McCaffrey back in games.
McCaffrey, who has missed the entire season and been on IR since Week 2 with Achilles tendinitis, returned to practice Monday after the team opened his 21-day practice window.
That he returned to practice Monday was a positive update since he spent the Bye week ramping up his rehab with more intense workouts that simulated practices.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday told reporters the Monday session went well for McCaffrey, who experienced no pain after the post-Bye bonus practice.
McCaffrey is projected to be a limited participant Wednesday.
While full participation is preferable, that McCaffrey got through Monday pain-free is a great sign for his potential Week 10 return when the 49ers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The next steps will be getting through three consecutive practices without any pain. McCaffrey’s return is essential to a potential 49ers playoff run, but they’re also unlikely to try and push him into action if he deals with even a minor setback in his recovery.
We’ll likely see limited sessions all week from McCaffrey, but they may give him a full go in Friday’s walk-through.
McCaffrey was the Offensive Player of the Year last season after leading the NFL with 339 touches, 1,459 rushing yards, 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns. His return will give the 49ers’ offense a boost after they struggled to score touchdowns without him in the first eight weeks.
If McCaffrey does play Sunday, he’ll be officially activated off IR on Saturday.
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