San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has been putting on a remarkable display in his second season with the Bay Area team.
Throughout the 2023 season, McCaffrey's performances have made him a contender for the 2023 NFL Most Valuable Player award. He competes for the league's top individual honor with standout quarterbacks Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and his 49ers colleague, Brock Purdy.
McCaffrey has had an outstanding campaign, achieving a career-high of 1,459 rushing yards and scoring 14 touchdowns on the ground. Additionally, he contributed significantly in the passing game, amassing 564 receiving yards and securing seven receiving touchdowns.
The 27-year-old has also set multiple records in the process, notably surpassing legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice's long-standing team record of most games in a row with a touchdown, doing it so in 17 straight games.
However, as the regular season winds down, the former Stanford University standout endured a minor physical setback.
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Christian McCaffrey Injury
During the second half of their Week 17 game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, December 31, McCaffrey was forced to leave the field due to a calf strain. While there was initial uncertainty about his return, the two-time Pro Bowl selection ultimately did not rejoin the game.
The 49ers eventually claimed a 27-10 victory at the FedEx Field in the nation's capital, clinching the number 1 seed in the NFC.
What is a calf strain?
A calf strain happens when the muscles at the back of your lower leg are overly stretched. This injury can range from mild overextension to a complete tear of the muscle.
Typically, mild strains can be managed with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. The recovery period varies depending on the severity, with full resumption of regular activities often taking several weeks.
On the other hand, a more severe tear may necessitate surgery. In such cases, the recovery period can extend up to six months.
Christian McCaffrey Status
Due to the injury, McCaffrey is set to miss their final regular season game on Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, January 7, to be held at home at Levi's Stadium.
Despite the initial alarm, McCaffrey minimized the significance of the injury, seeing his departure from the game against the Commanders as a precautionary measure.
"It was pretty minor. I was just having a hard time for a little bit, pushing off, and just for precautionary reasons, thought it would be better just to rest it," the MVP candidate said.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan echoed the star running back's sentiments during an interview on New Year's Day, confirming a "mild calf strain" that would not sideline McCaffrey long.
"Yeah, we're real confident on that [diagnosis], and it was good news. It could have been a lot worse. So we're happy. We'll take care of him this week, and hopefully, he'll start getting to go during our off week," the 49ers head tactician said.
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