NFL Rumors: 49ers' Christian McCaffrey Targeting Week 10 Return from Injury After Bye

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, who has missed the entire season due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis, may return after his team gets back from its Week 9 bye.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided the latest on the situation (conversation begins at 0:50 mark).

The 49ers are reportedly hoping McCaffrey can return to practice around Week 7 or 8 with a target to get back to the playing field on Nov. 10 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 28-year-old McCaffrey is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who finished as the Associated Press' Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 after amassing 2,023 total yards and 21 touchdowns for the NFC champion 49ers.

McCaffrey landed on injured reserve on Sept. 14, one day before the 49ers' 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The move to IR meant that McCaffrey would miss his team's next four games at minimum.

The eight-year veteran has cleared that mark. At this point, when the 49ers open McCaffrey's practice window, he has 21 days to return. That gives the 49ers three weeks to either (a) activate him to the roster or (b) place him on season-ending IR.

Obviously, Rapoport's report brings hope that the 49ers are getting ready to have McCaffrey get back to the practice field. He noted that CMC has been running on grass over the past few weeks, a "step in the right direction."

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated had more to add on the situation during a segment prior to the 49ers' road game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday. In essence, McCaffrey has "just started feeling like himself again last week," leading to the 49ers ramping him up "over the last few days."

There hasn't been a flare-up since the ramp-up, per Breer, who also said that CMC feels good. The 49ers are therefore optimistic about where McCaffrey is right now, but Breer also noted that the next two-to-three weeks are critical.

In the meantime, Jordan Mason has been dominating the 49ers' backfield. He entered the Seahawks game with 602 total yards and three scores.