The San Francisco 49ers head into the Bye week at .500 on the year following their 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football." The team's win coincided with a holiday that veteran All-Pro George Kittle helped create - National Tight Ends Day - so it's fitting he emerged as the team's receiving yards leader and one of San Francisco's top offensive performers from Week 8.
The Bye could not come at a better time for the 49ers who are looking to get healthy midway through the season. Injuries have been a huge factor for the team since before the start of the 2024 season. A number of expected starters and veterans have been missing from the lineup due to injury through these first eight weeks, however, it's possible at least of few of them can help boost this season late in the year.
One of the notable absences with potential for return is the reigning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year and All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, who landed on the Injured Reserve list with bilateral Achilles tendonitis ahead of the season opener. It's possible he could be available in time for San Francisco's Week 10 matchup versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"He's had no setbacks, so it looks like we're on track," head coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He's going to hit it hard this week while we're gone and kind of simulate some practice stuff for himself. As long as it all goes good, hopefully we'll get him back in practice next week."
Shanahan noted the 49ers will have meetings, workouts and some NFL mandated activities through Tuesday afternoon and then will break for the rest of the week. The team is expected to host a bonus practice next Monday that could potentially be when the 49ers open up McCaffrey's practice window. Once that happens, the plan is to take a day-by-day approach as they reintegrate their star running back.
"The expectation is just see how he is when he gets back and then evaluate him as he goes," Shanahan. "Of course, the hope is that everything just goes back to normal, and it's perfect, that's what we're all striving for. But, you've got to play that out smartly, and you've got to evaluate that each day. What we see with our own eyes, what he tells us, and that'll be something we constantly are working through."
