Since Christian McCaffrey joined the San Francisco 49ers via trade earlier this season, he’s helped catapult the team’s offense from dangerous to downright elite. After suffering an injury during San Francisco’s Divisional Round victory over the Dallas Cowboys, what is McCaffrey’s status heading into the NFC Championship Game?
Is Christian McCaffrey Playing Today?
Based on the 49ers’ injury report, Christian McCaffrey should be good to go for the team’s NFC Championship showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles.
McCaffrey missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday but was upgraded to a full participant on Friday. He’s listed without a designation, meaning he’ll be suited up come kickoff. And if the injury report wasn’t enough, McCaffrey quashed any murmurings regarding his availability by answering a reporter who asked if there was any chance that he’d miss this week’s game with a stern “zero.”
That said, McCaffrey’s availability throughout the game will still be worth monitoring. He suffered a calf injury in the Divisional Round and was limited to 67 percent of the team’s snaps. With their do-it-all starter hampered, the 49ers turned to Elijah Mitchell, a capable runner in his own right who put up 51 yards on 14 carries.
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Mitchell, though, enters this game with injury concerns of his own. The second-year back was listed on the injury report with a groin issue and tagged as a non-participant in practice all week. He’s officially questionable for Sunday.
If Mitchell can’t play, veteran RB Tevin Coleman, who was called up from the practice squad, and rookies Jordan Mason and Tyrion Davis-Price could see work backing up McCaffrey.
Fans are likely used to reading that the team might “play it safe” with McCaffrey to keep him fresh, given that he’s playing with an injury. But with a trip to Glendale, Arizona, and a shot at the Lombardi Trophy on the line, expect McCaffrey to give as much as he possibly can to help the 49ers put up points in the NFC Championship Game.
