(Santa Clara) Running back Christian McCaffrey will not return to action until October 10 due to a calf and Achilles tendon injury, the 49ers said.ers from San Francisco.
The club placed him on the injured list on Saturday.
He will therefore have to miss at least four more games; McCaffrey did not play in the Niners’ first game of the season, a 32-19 victory over the New York Jets.
McCaffrey was injured early in camp, missing four weeks of practice.
Last season, he led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards, also throwing for 14 touchdowns.
McCaffrey missed 23 games due to injuries in his last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers.
He remained healthy in 2022 and 2023, however, missing only the final game of last season.
Against the Jets, reserve Jordan Mason shone with 147 yards on 28 carries, including a touchdown. He will again be the starter on Sunday in Minnesota.
Mason came into his own after going undrafted.
After his stint at Georgia Tech, he totaled 83 carries in his first two seasons.
Before the current season, he had only had two games where he carried the ball at least 10 times.