49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey is expected to play against the Vikings on Monday Night Football, according to multiple reports. He's officially listed as questionable with an oblique injury.
McCaffrey didn't practice on Thursday or Friday, but was able to get out there in a limited capacity on Saturday. Afterwards, he told reporters he felt great. McCaffrey is dealing with a slight tear in his oblique, per Jay Glazer, but it's believed that he will play through it barring a setback on Monday.
That's significant news for a 49ers offense that will be without WR Deebo Samuel and will almost certainly be without LT Trent Williams, who is listed as doubtful. Even after Sunday's games, McCaffrey leads the NFL in rushing and is second in total touchdowns.
In six games this season, the Stanford product has 553 rushing yards on 110 carries (5.03 YPC) and seven rushing TDs. He also has 177 receiving yards and two more touchdowns through the air, giving him nine in total. After a relatively slow two-game start, McCaffrey has averaged 150 yards from scrimmage over the past four games, including a 177-yard, four-touchdown game against the Cardinals in Week 3.
The former first team All-Pro, who led the league in yards from scrimmage and touchdowns with the Panthers in 2019, has scored at least one TD in 15 consecutive games dating back to last season. That's tied for the second-longest such streak in NFL history.
Even if McCaffrey's role is limited slightly by this injury, the Vikings will have their hands full trying to slow him down and keep him out of the end zone.
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