SANTA CLARA — Christian McCaffrey is listed as questionable with an oblique injury but maintains he feels “great” and will probably face the Minnesota Vikings Monday.
The news wasn’t as good Saturday regarding Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams. Samuel had additional tests done on his ailing shoulder and a fracture was detected.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Samuel will miss at least the next two games heading into the bye.
“He had X-rays and MRIs early in the week and didn’t have anything,” Shanahan said. “The pain was still there, so he had a CT scan taken the other day ad they found a hairline fracture.”
Shanahan said there was no consideration at this time to place Samuel on injured reserve which would mean a minimum four-game absence.
The 49ers host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8 and then have a bye. If all goes according to plan, Samuel would return Nov. 12 when the 49ers visit Jacksonville.
Williams was listed as “doubtful” with an ankle injury, didn’t practice all week and almost certainly will be replaced by Jaylon Moore in the starting lineup against Minnesota.
Also listed as questionable for the 49ers was linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who missed the Cleveland game with a hamstring strain.
McCaffrey was on the field practicing with his teammates Saturday during the media window.
Christian McCaffrey practicing Saturday for #49ers. No sign of Deebo Samuel,Trent Williams during media window. pic.twitter.com/JthDbM8DW4
— Jerry McDonald (@Jerrymcd) October 21, 2023
Following practice, McCaffrey kept his answers short on specifics regarding his injury and repeated five times he feels “great” during an interview session that lasted just over two minutes.
“It was good to have him out there today,” Shanahan said. “We don’t do really anything full speed, but the fact that he was able to go out there and feel good will give him a chance and we’ve got to make sure he can go into that game on Monday and feel good.”
McCaffrey, who leads the NFL with 553 yards rushing and is second to Miami’s Tyreek Hill (823) in yards from scrimmage with 730, hasn’t been sidelined since missing the last five games of the 2021 season with the Carolina Panthers with an ankle injury.
He has scored a touchdown in 16 straight games (including playoffs) for the 49ers and has played in the his last 26 games (six with Carolina and then 20 including playoffs with the 49ers after being acquired by trade on Oct. 20, 2022.
Whether the 49ers will be able to lean on McCaffrey like they have through six games remains to be seen. With 110 rushes and 23 receptions, McCaffrey’s 133 touches trails only Jacksonville’s Travis Etienne (151), who has played one more game.
Shanahan defended the 49ers’ use of McCaffrey earlier in the week.
“We treat him as our starting running back,” Shanahan said. “I really don’t think of how many touches we want to get somebody in a year. That’s week to week and how the game goes. But he gets a lot more extra because he gets thrown to so much in the passing game.
“I’m happy with how he’s being used. I’m happy with how he’s been playing. We’ll see how the rest of the year goes.”
The 49ers have Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason at the ready if McCaffrey doesn’t play. If McCaffrey does play, the two running backs and the entire receiving corps will need to step up in Samuel’s absence.
Samuel was hurt on the first play of the game against Cleveland, taking a blow to the left shoulder by safety Juan Thornhill.
“Deebo’s a pretty unique player,” Shanahan said. “There are not many people are like him in the league so it does change things up but we’ve got a bunch of good receivers and a bunch of good running backs.”
Samuel has 20 receptions for 302 yards and a touchdown this season plus 19 rushes for 95 yards rushing and another touchdown in six games. He was injured by a blow to the shoulder on his first carry in the Cleveland loss and according to Shanahan has been dealing with other issues as well.
“He’s been banged up for a few weeks,” Shanahan said. “This will give him a chance to get him to settle down and hopefully come back at 100 percent.
Samuel missed four games last season with hamstring and ankle issues and had played in his last 10 games including the postseason after sitting out Weeks 14, 15 and 16 in 2022 with the ankle sprain.
With Samuel out, it means more opportunities for Ray-Ray McCloud, Jauan Jennings and Ronnie Bell opposite starter Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers could also call up a receiver from the practice squad Saturday.
“He’s such a dynamic player that can do so many things with the ball in his hands so we’ve all got to step up,” McCaffrey said.
Williams last missed a game in Week 6 of last season, missing three in all with a high ankle sprain in a Week 3 loss in Denver. He missed two games in 2021, one with an ankle sprain and the regular season finale against the Rams with an elbow injury.
Moore is next in line to start at left tackle. Moore last started in Weeks 5 and 6 last season when Williams was out with a high ankle sprain. Colton McKivitz, who is now the starting right tackle, started in Week 4 but left with a knee injury after 32 snaps against the Los Angeles Rams.
“Jaylon gets a lot of work with us,” Shanahan said. “Trent, with his age, never really goes on Wednesdays so Jaylon gets them all. He got a ton of reps in the preseason. He’s ready for this moment. He has been with us awhile and he’s got to step up, which is what it’s looking like right now. He’ll be ready.”