49ers Rumors: Christian McCaffrey Could Be Out At Least 6 Weeks with Achilles Injury

San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey could be out for six weeks or more due to his calf soreness and Achilles tendinitis, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport described the situation as "frustrating and difficult," both in terms of its physical effect on McCaffrey and the recovery process:

McCaffrey missed most of training camp and the entirety of the preseason while dealing with the calf and Achilles injuries. He then missed the Niners' season opener against the New York Jets before being placed on the injury reserve ahead of San Francisco's Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

By placing McCaffrey on injured reserve, the 49ers committed to him missing at least four games.

McCaffrey had an MVP-caliber season in 2023, racking up 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground to go along with 564 receiving yards and seven touchdowns through the air.

His strong performance led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance, where they fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime.

San Francisco is hoping its star in the backfield can get back on the field soon to help it become NFC champions once again this season.

In McCaffrey's absence, Jordan Mason has stepped up as a viable option in the backfield for the Niners. His 147-yard showing in a Week 1 win over the New York Jets at least raises some hope the offense can continue to operate efficiently without its best player.