Kyle Shanahan has telling comments about Christian McCaffrey

Oct 30, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) before playing against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The long wait appears to be over for Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers.

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday on KNBR that McCaffrey is expected to make his season debut Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Shanahan said McCaffrey has been “awesome” in practice and should be good to go barring any setbacks.

"He's been awesome these last 2 days. Hopefully that continues to go well. I expect to get him out there."
-Kyle Shanahan on Christian McCaffrey's status for Sunday (Via Tolbert & Copes) pic.twitter.com/eXLQLarZIk

— KNBR (@KNBR) November 7, 2024

The 49ers had long hoped and expected to get McCaffrey back after their bye week, and that appears to be what is happening. The team had opened his practice window this week, and while they have yet to officially activate McCaffrey from injured reserve, that move is inevitable.

Without McCaffrey, the 49ers have gone an underwhelming 4-4, but remain firmly in the mix in the NFC West. They have held up well with Jordan Mason playing instead, but nobody can replicate what McCaffrey brings to the San Francisco offense.