Christian McCaffrey Still Has No Timeline for Injury Return, Says 49ers' John Lynch

There still isn't an exact timetable for return for San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, but general manager John Lynch provided an encouraging update during a Friday morning appearance on Bay Area radio station KNBR (h/t David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone).

"No new updates other than he's doing incredibly well," Lynch said. "It's all about the ramp up, increasing the activity, making sure that there's no setbacks. I could just tell people he's on a good track with that. No timelines or anything, but he's doing a little bit more—not each day. We kind of stagger it, work hard one day, kind of go into more of a [regeneration] day the next day.

"But when you can start to stack those and not have setbacks, that's a good thing, and that's kind of the direction he's trending in."

McCaffrey hasn't played yet this season.

He was announced as inactive just hours ahead of San Francisco's Week 1 game against the New York Jets because of an Achilles injury. The team eventually placed him on injured reserve, and he even traveled to Germany in late September to see a specialist.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Sept. 29 that the team expected the star running back to return by "early November."

However, it was also revealed in late September that the running back was dealing with Achilles tendonitis in both Achilles tendons.

The injury has prevented McCaffrey from building on last season's incredible showing early in the 2024 campaign.

He won the Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 behind 1,459 rushing yards, 564 receiving yards and 21 total touchdowns. His presence was a major reason San Francisco reached the Super Bowl, and he led the league in rushing yards, yards from scrimmage and total touchdowns.

Fortunately for the 49ers, backup running back Jordan Mason has helped cushion the blow with McCaffrey sidelined.

Mason ran for 147 yards and one touchdown in the Week 1 game against the Jets and has 609 rushing yards and three touchdowns in six games this season. While he is also dealing with an injury in the form of an AC joint sprain, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters "I think he'll be good by Sunday" for the game against the Chiefs.