McCaffrey could debut with 49ers against Chiefs

“I know for sure he’ll be here next Sunday, but I’m kind of a wait-and-see approach; We know he’s ready, but he hasn’t practiced with us,” the coach explained.

The 49ers acquired McCaffrey, a former Carolina Panthers player, in exchange for a second, third- and fourth-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, as well as a fifth pick in the 2024 Draft.

Shanahan noticed the 36-year-old born in Castle Rock, Colorado for his versatility that leads him to be more than just a runner.

He has 390 receptions in 64 career games and has twice surpassed the 100-reception mark. His problem goes through a pair of injuries he suffered in 2020 and 2021, which caused him to miss 23 of Carolina’s 33 regular-season games.

“I know these last two years have not been good for him, but watching him this season, he has fully recovered his health, he looks like the same one who came out of college; I know we have a tough guy who takes care of his body as well as you can.”

In this 2022 McCaffrey had activity in the six games that the Panthers have played, even getting a score in the game of week five against the 49ers. Hence Shanahan’s enthusiasm to bring him to the Californian team.

“He’s a guy who learns fast, we’ll see how he does in the next 48 hours because he hasn’t even seen our playbook, he doesn’t know the words we use or anything, but Christian is a good football player by nature,” praised the coach.

McCaffrey is the missing piece in the 49ers to round out an offense that has stars like Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk, and give balance to a team that boasts the best defense in the league until week six.

San Francisco has a three-win, three-loss record in the Western division of the National Conference, along with the champion Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.

In week seven of the 2022 NFL season, the 49ers will host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.