SANTA CLARA — Christian McCaffrey’s oblique injury will prevent him from practicing today with the 49ers, who are coming off their first loss of the season and next play Monday night at the Minnesota Vikings.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey’s MRI exam revealed an oblique injury, and that he is “day to day” with “a chance” to play Minnesota.
McCaffrey, the NFL’s leading rusher through each of the season’s first six weeks, has not missed a game since getting traded to the 49ers last October. He exited in the third quarter of Sunday’s 19-17 loss at Cleveland. He has scored in 15 consecutive games, three shy of Lenny Moore’s NFL record (1963-65, Colts).
Friday marks the 49ers’ one-year anniversary of acquiring McCaffrey from Carolina, and Shanahan lauded his dependability, reliability and mentality, aside from his production.
“He has the mentality of a walk-on guy trying to get people’s attention for working so hard,” Shanahan said. “Every single play is the biggest thing in the world, whether getting the ball or not. He’s a great example of a football player.”
Also not slated to practice, but without long-term concerns, are:
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
Left tackle Trent Williams (ankle)
Left guard Aaron Banks (ankle)
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hamstring)
Added to the injury report were Banks’ issue and cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who will be limited in practice with a knee issue. Cleared for full practice are safety George Odum (quadriceps) and running back Elijah Mitchell (knee).
Greenlaw missed his first game of the season, and Oren Burks replaced him in the starting lineup.
If McCaffrey is held out from Monday’s game on Minnesota’s synthetic surface, the 49ers could give Jordan Mason his first career start, or, perhaps more likely, turn to Elijah Mitchell, their 2021 team’s leading rusher as a rookie who has 11 career starts.
On Wednesday, the Vikings (2-4) added outside linebacker Marcus Davenport to their Injured Reserve list, which is also where they have star receiver Justin Jefferson (back) and former 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (back).