San Francisco 49ers fans have been longing to hear it, and the time has finally come. All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey will officially make his season debut on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan joined KNBR on Thursday and made the announcement.
“He's been awesome these last 2 days [of practice]. Hopefully, that continues to go well. I expect to get him out there,” Shanahan said.
This is joyous news to 49ers fans, as the season has not gone as planned in McCaffrey's absence. McCaffrey has missed the first eight games of the regular season with Achilles tendinitis in both legs. It is unknown how many snaps McCaffrey will play. But the fact that he will be on the field is sure to give Bucs head coach Todd Bowles heartburn.
Back-up running back Jordan Mason did a serviceable job while he was out, but Mason sustained a shoulder injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. That hampered him both against the Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys the following week.
Injuries have been a problem for the 49ers all over the field.
Pro Bowl wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle have been banged up all year. Brandon Aiyuk then suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Jauan Jennings was expected to step up in his place, but even Jennings has missed the last two games with a hip injury.
Jennings practiced on a limited basis Thursday and appears on track to return to the lineup.
Even the 49ers defense has been gutted. Two of the best players on defense, Javon Hargrave and Talanoa Hufanga, are on injured reserve. Despite all of the ailments facing San Francisco, they enter Week 10 a half-game out of first place in the NFC West. The Arizona Cardinals are 5-4, atop the division.
The 49ers are 1-2 in the division, though, with losses to the Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams. Following their road date against the Buccaneers on Sunday, San Francisco will begin a pivotal stretch in their schedule.
They face the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and Rams, respectively. As daunting as that sounds, with a healthy Christian McCaffrey active, that ought to make life much easier.
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