The San Francisco 49ers will travel to U.S. Bank Stadium this weekend for a Week 2 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. While there are several angles worth watching in this matchup, the most prominent will revolve around the health of 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.
A surprise scratch from the lineup on Monday night against the New York Jets due to a calf and Achilles injury, McCaffrey’s status for Week 2 against the Vikings remains up in the air. Here’s the latest on his chances of suiting up on Sunday as well as how the Vikings are handling the ambiguity about his status.
Latest on Christian McCaffrey’s Achilles Injury
McCaffrey’s exclusion from the lineup on Monday night struck nearly everyone by surprise. In the build-up to Sunday’s contest against Minnesota, there will be no surprises.
On Wednesday’s edition of Good Morning Football, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport characterized McCaffrey’s chances of playing against the Vikings as a long shot.
Rapoport isn’t the only one suggesting McCaffrey’s absence will extend into and beyond San Francisco’s meeting with Minnesota in Week 2. Sports Injury Central’s Dr. David Chao shared his latest analysis of McCaffrey’s injury on Wednesday as well.
"Achilles tendonitis can linger but there is a potential risk for Achilles tendon rupture!" @profootballdoc shares his latest analysis of 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey's injury and when he expects to see him on the field. #FTTB
➡️https://t.co/hEryWEW3xW pic.twitter.com/9N8oLNAKn7
— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) September 11, 2024
The daily injury report San Francisco is required to submit on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week will yield clues as to the chances McCaffrey suits up. But if the 49ers elect to keep their cards close to the vest, official word on his status may not be known until 90 minutes before kickoff, when NFL teams are required to list their inactive players for that week’s game.
Vikings Will Prepare for McCaffrey on Sunday
Whether McCaffrey plays or not on Sunday, the Vikings know they have their hands full.
Even without the 2023 Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year in the lineup last week against a stingy Jets defense, the 49ers generated 401 net yards of offense and registered 24 first downs.
Head coach Mike Shanahan, who effectively designs and calls the offense, is known for his acumen with the running game. He was forced to operate in the first game of the season without his primary weapon in the run game and still guided San Francisco’s offense to an output of 180 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, primarily with backup Jordan Mason shouldering the load. Mason had 28 carries for 147 yards and one score.
Shanahan even found a way to get ground production from someone other than a running back. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel had eight carries for 23 yards and also found the paint with a two-yard run in the second quarter.
The 49ers’ schematic excellence and personnel versatility is not lost on Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.
“You talk about Deebo; they got (Brandon) Aiyuk back getting his legs underneath him. I’m sure he’s going to have a major, major role in the game plan,” O’Connell said on his weekly radio show.
“And we’ll expect to see Christian McCaffrey as well. So you’re talking about three really, really impactful players and we haven’t even said the word (tight end George) Kittle yet in regard to their weaponry that they have offensively.
“I think Kyle does an unbelievable job activating those all those guys all in their own roles and skill sets.”
Deebo Samuel Will Have Big Impact on Sunday
The Vikings will clearly be splitting their defensive focus this week. Not only must they devise a plan for two different starting running backs, but they must also ensure they’re prepared for Deebo Samuel Sr.
Both O’Connell and his defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, demonstrated great respect for Samuel.
“He’s as good as there is in our league with the ball in his hands,” O’Connell said. “You really have to have a mindset showing up to the stadium when you’re playing a guy like Deebo. Every time he touches it, if you aren’t willing to commit fully to getting Deebo Samuel on the ground, he can take it the distance.”
Flores, in his weekly press conference, described Samuel’s fit in Shanahan’s offense as “the perfect fusion of talent and schematics.”
The Vikings and 49ers both understand very well the impact Samuel has in this particular matchup. In Week 7 last year, San Francisco came to Minnesota as a seven-point road favorite. At the same time, a similar storyline to this year unfolded, as Samuel was injured the week prior and didn’t suit up against the Vikings.
All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams also didn’t play after being injured the week prior.
Missing two key pieces, the 49ers scored just 17 points and lost to the Vikings. Despite the presence of Aiyuk, McCaffrey, and Kittle, Samuel’s absence turned out to be key.
So even if McCaffrey is out for this contest, don’t expect Minnesota to rest easy or for San Francisco to become discouraged.