Christian McCaffrey could have played for 49ers if it was the playoffs, Shanahan says
Associated PressSANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey could have played in the 49ers’ opener if it had been a playoff game but the team held him out to make sure his Achilles tendinitis didn’t become a more serious issue. The decision to hold McCaffrey out of Monday night’s 32-19 win over the New York Jets came as a surprise to many and upset many fantasy football players who had taken the star running back with one of the top picks in their drafts. Shanahan said the decision was not made until Monday and that he only told Mason to prepare to possibly have a heavier load with McCaffrey dealing with the injury. But when you hear that type of stuff and it’s not a playoff game and it’s Week 1 and especially when you’re dealing with the lower extremities like that, it was a tough decision, but hearing all the words in the long run, it made it easy.” Mason replaced McCaffrey and had 147 yards rushing and a touchdown on 28 carries in San Francisco’s victory.