The long wait for Christian McCaffrey seems to be coming to an end.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that he expects the All-Pro running back to make his season debut this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after an “impressive” performance in practice the last two days, through KNBR.
McCaffrey has been out all season due to Achilles tendinitis and calf tightness, and the first problems arose when he was scratched late in Week 1. He was soon placed on injured reserve, with a confusing timetable for returning to the field.
He was treated by a specialist in Germany in September and did not return to training until this week. This week, he has been listed as a limited participant in both Wednesday and Thursday practice.
With McCaffrey out, the 4-4 Niners have struggled to replicate their success from last season, due to both the running back’s absence and other factors. Jordan Mason has handled the bulk of the running duties, recording 685 rushing yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry (McCaffrey averaged 5.4 yards last season).
Mason has also been dealing with injuries, as he was limited Thursday due to a shoulder issue. Rookie Isaac Guerendo has also seen action with 227 yards and 6.1 yards per carry.