There has been a lot of speculation in recent days about how long Christian McCaffrey may remain on the sidelines as he battles Achilles tendinitis, with most of it suggesting the reigning Offensive Player of the Year could be looking an extended absence.
San Francisco 49ers running back McCaffrey has not played this season because of the issue and was placed on injured reserve after missing the season opener against the New York Jets.
He must miss at least the next two games against the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals before he can return to the field.
McCaffrey recently traveled to Germany to see an Achilles specialist, an unexpected step, though his decision to travel abroad was not an unusual one. Peyton Manning left the country for stem cell treatment on his injured neck in 2011.
Shanahan would not be drawn on the exact nature of McCaffrey’s visit to Germany when pressed on it in his Friday media conference ahead of the 49ers’ Week 4 clash with the New England Patriots, saying only that he went there to get “treatment”.
However, he suggested McCaffrey could be ready to start preparing for a return.
Asked if the 49ers want to begin ramping up McCaffrey next week to prepare him for a return to the field, Shanahan replied: “Yeah, we’d like to start hitting his rehab here harder on Monday.”
Of course, wanting to get McCaffrey on track to make his return in Week 6 at the Seattle Seahawks and that actually being possible are two different things. The 49ers will also not want to rush McCaffrey, especially with Jordan Mason deputizing extremely well. Mason heads into Week 4 second in the league in rushing behind only Saquon Barkley.
But Shanahan’s comments suggests there is optimism there could be light at the end of the tunnel with the McCaffrey situation. For a 49ers team that might need to lean even more heavily on its offense in order to contend once again this season, it would be very welcome news if that is the case.