49ers Cannot Afford to Make Crucial Christian McCaffrey Mistake Against Saints

Unfortunately for McCaffrey, he likely won’t have much time to rest against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. Not only did the 49ers place Kittle on injured reserve with a hamstring problem, but head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged that quarterback Brock Purdy could miss multiple weeks with a turf toe variant. Veteran receiver Jauan Jennings, who had two catches for 16 yards last Sunday, also sat out Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder issue.

Based on how the 49ers handled McCaffrey’s snaps and touches against the Seahawks, it’s hard not to start feeling concerned about his risk of injury moving forward.

The 49ers Are Setting Christian McCaffrey Up to Get Hurt Yet Again

We’re well aware that players can get hurt at any time in any situation. The Los Angeles Chargers lost All-Pro left tackle Rashawn Slater to a season-ending patellar tendon injury during an August practice.

Still, can you blame anyone for worrying about McCaffrey? He played 76% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps last Sunday, trailing only receiver Ricky Pearsall (84%) among offensive skill players. Meanwhile, recently-acquired running back Brian Robinson only played 18 snaps (24%) and had 10 touches for 37 yards.

As unfair as it might seem to McCaffrey, the 49ers need to ensure that they work Robinson more into the running back rotation. San Francisco cannot afford another McCaffrey injury, especially not when their offense is already missing several key players.

For his part, McCaffrey dismissed the idea on Wednesday that his recent calf problem was anything significant.

“I knew I was gonna play,” McCaffrey told reporters. “I just wanted to be smart with it.”

Fair enough. It’s time, though, for the 49ers to be “smart with it” and limit McCaffrey’s snaps when appropriate, even if it’s as simple as sitting him early in a blowout. The last thing that the 49ers need, especially considering their Super Bowl hopes, is to watch McCaffrey land on IR again.