Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers has a ‘mild’ calf injury and will be unavailable for the Week 18 matchup against the Rams.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is currently managing a “mild” calf strain, prompting head coach Kyle Shanahan to announce that McCaffrey will be absent for the regular-season finale on Sunday, as revealed in a press conference on Monday.
With the 49ers already securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the decision to rest McCaffrey in Week 18 allows him ample time—nearly three weeks—to recover before the team’s divisional-round playoff game.
McCaffrey had previously grappled with an oblique injury, which forced him to exit the Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Despite returning for the Week 7 game against the Minnesota Vikings, his absence in the loss to the Browns underscored his significance to the normally potent San Francisco offense, which struggled, managing only 17 total points.
For the 2023 season, McCaffrey concludes with 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 67 receptions for 564 yards and seven scores as a receiver in 16 games. His multifaceted skill set allows the 49ers to pose matchup challenges on the field, creating opportunities for other offensive weapons.
While the 49ers lack another running back with McCaffrey’s unique impact, the combination of Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason is expected to step up in his absence against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
