SANTA CLARA — Christian McCaffrey insisted Thursday his calf is feeling “much better” and his Achilles is “not a concern for me,” even though he’s remained limited in this week’s practices leading into the 49ers’ season opener Monday night.
Any doubt in his mind if he will play against the New York Jets at Levi’s Stadium? “Nope,” McCaffrey replied.
So, the usual workload for the NFL’s reigning rushing champion and AP Offensive Player of the Year? “Hope so,” he added.
McCaffrey missed four weeks of practice in training camp and the preseason. He’s looked spry enough in practice that it would be stunning if he skips the 49ers’ prime-time debut, leaving Jordan Mason to make his first career start.
Regardless, McCaffrey will share the spotlight with another running back, and we’re not talking about Jets’ counterpart Breece Hall, all due respect to Brock Purdy’s former Iowa State teammate. At halftime, the 49ers will hold a ceremony honoring Frank Gore, their all-time rushing leader who is being formally inducted Sunday night into the 49ers’ Edward J DeBartolo Sr. Hall of Fame.
McCaffrey loosely recalled meeting Gore during a joint practice in 2019 camp, when they were with the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills, respectively. “Sometimes when you meet people that you’ve watched as a kid, you’re just worried about not saying anything stupid,” McCaffrey said. “I don’t remember exactly what he said to me but I remember meeting me and it was a big honor when I did.”
Gore made it a point to meet McCaffrey back then only because he heard Bills’ defenders praising the 2017 Stanford product. So, after that first joint practice, Gore went to review video of him and liked what he saw. “The next day I went up to this kid and said, ‘Bro the way you play and how you practice, you’re going to do special things,” Gore recalled Friday morning on KNBR 680-AM. “Now I’m not shocked at all the compliments he gets. The way he comes to play is the right way. I’m all for him and happy for him.”
McCaffrey did recall those “cool compliments” and said they meant a lot “hearing it from someone like that.”
Gore is in his second year as a 49ers’ personnel advisor, so their paths continue to cross. “I want him to go out and kill it for me so we have a big celebration when I get inducted into the 49ers Hall of Fame,” Gore said of Monday’s plan.
Tight end George Kittle is on board with that, saying of McCaffrey: He has an incredibly high standard for himself. He takes this incredibly seriously. … There is an anonymous poll, and Christian should compete for the MVP, but I wasn’t allowed to pick someone on my own team, which is bull. But Christian is going to have another fantastic football season.”
PROGRESS REPORT
Left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk impressed with their progress Thursday as they integrate themselves into practice following their contract disputes.
“Trent is Trent and continues to be …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
