SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With the beginning of the San Francisco 49ers’ playoff journey set for Saturday, working again Christian McCaffrey returned to observe on Tuesday after recovering from a proper calf harm.
McCaffrey suffered what he and the Niners described as a “gentle” calf pressure in a Week 17 win in opposition to the Washington Commanders. He didn’t play in a meaningless Week 18 loss to the Los Angeles Rams with an eye fixed towards returning at full energy for the playoffs.
He was again Tuesday when the top-seeded Niners opened their week of preparation for the NFC divisional spherical showdown with the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
McCaffrey was a full participant within the session and is full velocity forward for Saturday, in line with coach Kyle Shanahan.
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“I feel he is equipped and able to go, the identical means he was final yr,” Shanahan mentioned. “In all probability the identical means he was in a playoff sport when he was 5 years outdated, too or a scrimmage. Christian is all the time the identical. He is all the time ready for that second and he is been ready for this second for some time.”
McCaffrey and the 49ers had been optimistic over the previous two weeks that he can be tremendous for the start of the postseason however it’s nonetheless a welcome improvement given all McCaffrey has meant to San Francisco this season. Regardless of lacking the ultimate sport of the yr, McCaffrey received his first NFL speeding crown, ending with 1,459 yards on the bottom. That was 292 greater than Derrick Henry, who completed second.
McCaffrey additionally led the league in scrimmage yards per sport (126.4), first downs (114) and 10-plus yard runs (44). He completed tied for first in complete touchdowns with 21.
Earlier than the regular-season finale, McCaffrey had not missed a sport as a Niner since arriving by way of commerce in October 2022. However McCaffrey mentioned he might have performed in Week 18 if wanted.
“I’ve performed via worse,” McCaffrey mentioned on the time. “It is simply a type of issues the place proper now the scenario we’re in, precaution might be higher. However I knew I used to be going to be good no matter what the check mentioned. So, it was extra of a cautionary scenario and being sensible about it than doing one thing silly.”
As a result of that they had already clinched the NFC’s high seed, the Niners didn’t must play on wild-card weekend. They did, nonetheless, have a pair of practices on Thursday and Friday final week, even placing on full pads for the Friday exercise. McCaffrey didn’t take part in both of these exercises.
Elsewhere on the harm report, the Niners look like rounding into good well being on the proper time. Defensive finish Clelin Ferrell (knee), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles tendonitis) and security Logan Ryan (groin) had been the one gamers not anticipated to take part in Tuesday’s observe, although Shanahan mentioned Greenlaw and Ryan ought to be capable of return on Wednesday.
