Christian McCaffrey has returned from Germany, where he received treatment for his Achilles injury. The star running back for the 49ers is now assessing the effectiveness of that treatment.
During an appearance on KNBR’s “Murph and Markus” show, general manager John Lynch provided an update on McCaffrey’s recovery from Achilles tendinitis.
“We placed him on injured reserve to ensure everyone recognized the need for discipline regarding his condition, which involves inflammation that had flared up—specifically, bilateral Achilles tendinitis. We needed to calm it down,” Lynch explained to hosts Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher. “The plan was to give him adequate time to recover and then thoughtfully increase his activity level. He has a team that has worked with him for a long time, and we collaborate closely with them. Now that Christian is back, we’ll need to assess his progress and set specific benchmarks before ramping up his training.”
McCaffrey has yet to see action in the 2024 NFL season due to calf tightness and Achilles tendinitis. The 49ers placed him on injured reserve prior to their season opener against the New York Jets. Although he could technically return after Week 4, he is expected to be sidelined for a longer period.
In an effort to manage his injury, McCaffrey chose to fly to Germany for a consultation with a specialist, a decision supported by Lynch and the 49ers.
“Christian had a connection there and conducts extensive research on his health. He works incredibly hard, and we approved his trip,” Lynch noted.
However, Lynch emphasized that the team will not rush McCaffrey back into action. “Of course, we want him back, as he’s a game-changer for us, but we want him healthy first. We’ll take whatever time is necessary. We don’t have a clear timeline yet, but now that he’s back, we’ll create a plan to gradually ramp him up,” Lynch said. “Hopefully, we’ve sufficiently calmed the issue, allowing us to begin rebuilding his strength.”
In the meantime, third-year player Jordan Mason has stepped up, rushing for 324 yards in three games, ranking second in the NFL after Week 4. While Mason’s performance has been commendable, the 49ers will need McCaffrey to maximize their offensive capabilities.