The San Francisco 49ers’ quest to overcome the Super Bowl hurdle hit a roadblock Tuesday.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey will miss “a few weeks” with a calf injury.
McCaffrey played 10 total games from 2020 to 2021 due to injuries.
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Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The 49ers’ season doesn’t start for another five weeks, so that gives McCaffrey plenty of time to return. But Shanahan said McCaffrey won’t participate in the preseason.
It’s become increasingly rare to see star veterans get into preseason action. So who knows if McCaffrey would have even seen a snap anyway. He’s only played in two preseason games since 2019.
It’s also worth noting that McCaffrey is on the cover of Madden 25, and fans are worried that this is the revival of the so-called Madden curse.
Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on November 23, 2023, in Seattle. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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In the early 21st century, athletes who appeared on the game’s cover often had tumultuous seasons immediately following their appearance. Dante Culpepper (2001), Donovan McNabb (2006), Shaun Alexander (2007), and Vince Young (2008) are some of the most notable examples.
However, there hasn’t been a “curse” since Rob Gronkowski graced the cover of the magazine in 2016 and then posted the worst numbers of his career.
The Niners suffered a few other setbacks. Backup running back Elijah Mitchell injured his hamstring and rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall aggravated a shoulder injury.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey celebrates after scoring against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half in Santa Clara, California on October 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
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Last season, McCaffrey rushed for a league-high and career-high 1,459 yards, and his 21 total touchdowns were both an NFL high and a career best.
San Francisco opens its season on September 9 by hosting the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
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