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49ers' Christian McCaffrey on Calf Injury: 'Zero' Chance I Miss NFC Title Game
January 26, 2023
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey made it clear Thursday that he doesn't believe there's any chance of him missing his team's NFC Championship game matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
McCaffrey confirmed after the team's 19-12 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Round on Sunday that he played through calf discomfort.
"I was fighting but made it through—made it through great," McCaffrey told reporters.
"Nothing bad...all good," he later added.
Per Pro Football Reference, McCaffrey played 44 of a possible 66 offensive snaps Sunday. He finished the game with 10 carries for 35 rushing yards and one touchdown along with six receptions for 22 rushing yards.
Elijah Mitchell filled in for McCaffrey in relief and had 14 carries for 51 rushing yards.
McCaffrey did not take part in practice Wednesday, and he's out again Thursday, per head coach Kyle Shanahan. Mitchell will also sit the second straight practice with a groin injury, but on Monday, Shanahan told reporters that both backs were "day-to-day" but expected to play in the NFC Championship.
The 49ers have lost once since adding McCaffrey via trade from the Carolina Panthers in October, winning 12 in a row including the playoffs.
He's earned 1,880 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns in 2022. A total of 1,139 of those yards occurred on the ground, and he also snagged 85 passes for 741 yards.
It appears that McCaffrey and Mitchell will both give it a go Sunday at 3 p.m. ET from Lincoln Financial Field. If not, the next men up on the depth chart are rookies Tyrion Davis-Price (34 carries, 99 rushing yards) and Jordan Mason (43 carries, 258 rushing yards, one touchdown).