49ers RB Christian McCaffrey out Week 18 with mild calf strain،
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – After clinching first place in the NFC and earning a bye in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers are still working on how they will deploy their starters in their regular season finale . But one key player has already been ruled out.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that star running back Christian McCaffrey has a “mild” right calf strain and will not play in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams.
The good news for McCaffrey and the Niners is that the injury does not appear serious and McCaffrey will be ready in time to prepare for the team's first playoff game.
“We feel really confident about that,” Shanahan said. “It was good news. It could have been a lot worse. We're happy they're taking care of him this week and I hope he starts to go away. [in practice] during our week off.”
Because the Niners already have a first-place finish, they essentially have an extra week to rest players who need time to get healthy. They will not play a significant match until the divisional round, scheduled for January 20-21.
McCaffrey injured his calf early in the third quarter of Sunday's win over the Washington Commanders. He had 91 total yards from scrimmage before leaving, but said after the game that he didn't believe the injury was serious, a suspicion that was confirmed Monday.
“I think it was minor and it was a smart move, especially not knowing what was going to happen next week,” McCaffrey said. “I didn't want to just go in there and make things worse. With some things you can't be stupid.”
With McCaffrey out, the Niners turned to Elijah Mitchell to carry the load. He finished with 80 yards on 17 carries with one touchdown. The 49ers also have Jordan Mason and practice squad Tyrion Davis-Price to take over in McCaffrey's place.
McCaffrey isn't the only Niner dealing with an injury. Cornerback Ambry Thomas played with a broken hand against Washington and will have surgery Tuesday. Shanahan said the injury would likely keep Thomas from facing the Rams, but he, too, should be ready to return for the playoffs.
Defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who has not played since the Dec. 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles due to a foot injury, will be out again Sunday in hopes of being ready for the playoffs. Safety Ji'Ayir Brown (knee) is day-to-day as he continues his rehabilitation, while receiver Jauan Jennings and offensive lineman Jaylon Moore remain in concussion protocol.
Shanahan said he hasn't yet made a decision on other key veterans who could benefit from some extra rest in the regular-season finale. Shanahan said those picks — including regarding quarterback Brock Purdy — will be made on a case-by-case basis as the week goes on.
“It’s a really hard thing to do, and it’s not always the best thing to do,” Shanahan said. “We'll take it all in. It's still something we'll continue to talk about throughout this day and tomorrow.”
Shanahan added that decisions regarding rested starters are not only about giving them the game, but also about how much they will practice during the week and the trickle-down effect that can create when players who play end up having to do more than usual and thus become more vulnerable to injury.
“When you give guys a game, the practices change too, and that can end up hurting guys really bad, just developing bad habits, and I've seen that cost a lot of teams,” Shanahan said . “You rest players and that sometimes results in more injuries. So all of that you have to balance, and that's why there's no clear decision on anything. You have to look at every individual and every situation . and play it throughout the week.
