San Francisco 49ers Face Week 2 Without Key Players

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their Week 2 game without their All-Pro running back, Christian McCaffrey, who has been placed on the Injured Reserve list as of Saturday. McCaffrey is currently dealing with a calf and Achilles injury, which prevented him from participating in the preseason and has continued to trouble him in the early weeks of the 2024 season. Due to this roster move, McCaffrey will be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks, making the October 10th game against the Seattle Seahawks the earliest potential return for him.

In McCaffrey’s absence, attention turns to third-year running back Elijah Mitchell, who delivered an impressive performance in the season opener by accumulating 147 rushing yards and scoring a touchdown. His contributions will be crucial for the 49ers as they navigate the coming weeks without McCaffrey’s presence on the field.

Additionally, the team faces other injury challenges. Defensive player Talanoa Hufanga is out this week due to a knee injury. Hufanga is being gradually reintroduced into the lineup after recovering from an ACL injury sustained in Week 11 of the 2023 season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned earlier in the week that Hufanga might play, but it was decided to delay his return for at least another week.

Furthermore, linebacker Dre Greenlaw has returned to practice as of Thursday, yet he continues to recover from an ankle injury suffered during the preseason. Although back in practice, Greenlaw’s status for the upcoming game reflects ongoing injury management by the team’s medical staff.