NFL Trade Rumors: San Francisco 49ers Running Back Christian McCaffrey "Longshot" to Return in Week 6

It sounds like San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey's long injury odyssey won't be over any time soon. In his Week 4 buzz file, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler revealed he believes the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year is a "longshot" to return by Week 6 due to his lingering Achilles and calf injuries.

Week 4 buzz file:

-QB job security
-Most confusing teams
-#Vikings' physical offense
-Fields' momentum in PIT (and Broderick Jones' bounce-back game)
-Miami's stopgap QB options
-Injuries, potential lineup changes

...From @DanGrazianoESPN and mehttps://t.co/xuywFqnYDj
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 25, 2024

McCaffrey missed much of training camp due to a calf strain and Achilles tendonitis, but he was expected to be ready for the regular season. He was a surprise scratch in the 49ers' Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets, and that preceded a trip to injured reserve, which guaranteed he'd miss Weeks 2 through 5. According to Fowler, a Week 6 return doesn't appear to be in the cards, either.

The 49ers have to be frustrated with McCaffrey's continued unavailability. He's arguably their most valuable player. He led the NFL in rushing yards (1459), yards from scrimmage (2023), and total touchdowns (21) in 2023, earning the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year award in the process.

Interestingly, the 49ers offense has generally been solid in McCaffrey's absence. Their 1222 total yards are the third-most in the league, they lead the NFL with 73 first downs, and backup running back Jordan Mason has contributed an impressive 324 rushing yards.

Unfortunately, that offensive efficiency hasn't quite translated to the onfield success the 49ers are accustomed to. They've lost two straight, including a crucial NFC West matchup against a shorthanded Los Angeles Rams team. Clearly, if the 49ers are going to repeat as NFC Conference champions, they'll need even more from their offense. McCaffrey could be just what the doctor ordered, but they must survive until then.