Our long national nightmare is over. Or international, if you include what looks like a successful trip to Germany. Christian McCaffrey is back, officially. After missing the first eight games of the 2024 season with a mysterious, worrisome case of bilateral Achilles tendinitis, the reigning NFL Offensive player of the year returned to the practice field on Monday as the 49ers come out of the bye and begin preparation for Tampa Bay.
For much of September, the only McCaffrey updates we received were downright bad at worst, or shrouded in uncertainty at best. It looked for a substantial period of time like the Niners may not enjoy the services of their all world back at all this season. But the news slowed, and the expectation that McCaffrye would make his way back in the early winter became the cautiously optimistic expectation of much of the fan base. The fact that he’s now practicing, and that it looks like he will play in six days in Tampa, is without a doubt the best case scenario given how bleak it could have been.
Of course, McCaffrey’s triumphant return doesn’t come without risk. John Lund was on air during the midday show on KNBR when the news of MCCaffrey’s return broke. He and fill-in host Kerry Crowley agreed that while the move puts McCaffrey at risk of far more serious injury to his achilles, the nature of the season and how the NFC West has shaken out forces the 49ers hand.
“You and I are right for being a little bit weary… I’m nervous. I gotta be honest. But at some point this season they gotta give it a shot.”
Given all the 49ers have endured throughout the first eight games of this campaign, a 4-4 record with the return of their best player pending is far from the worst case scenario. San Francisco travels to Tampa Bay this weekend before hosting Seattle the following week. That two game swing precedes a tough two game road trip to Green Bay and Buffalo to end November.