Vikings could catch a major break in Week 2 vs. the 49ers

The Minnesota Vikings are riding high after a season-opening win over the New York Giants, but they may have already received a boost in their quest for 2-0 as ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes star running back Christian McCaffrey could miss Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Schefter dropped the news on Monday night when McCaffrey was named a late inactive before the 49ers hosted the New York Jets. While Jordan Mason filled in and got the start, Schefter believed that this was more than a one-week absence and raised the possibility of him missing Sunday’s game at the Vikings.

“On Friday, Christian McCaffrey pulled himself out of practice. They were not overly concerned. They did not think it was a big deal. They thought and expected that he would be able to go tonight. The issue was he came in today for treatment and the calf still was tight.

Now, let’s keep in mind. He basically didn’t practice all summer long. It was not just a calf; it was also his Achilles. So you’ve got two issues here. They decided, in the interest of it being a long season, to hold him out tonight, not to activate him, to put him on the bench.

Jordan Mason is going to start tonight, and not only is Christian McCaffrey out tonight, but there’s a real chance he’s not going to play on Sunday, either. They play on the road at Minnesota on turf in a shorter week. So he’s inactive tonight and it looks like there’s a real strong possibility McCaffrey will not play Sunday against the Vikings as well.”

San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey could be out vs. Minnesota Vikings in Week 2

As Schefter mentioned, McCaffrey was dealing with an ankle and calf issue over the summer and didn’t practice until Friday. Even when McCaffrey pulled himself out of practice on Friday, there was still a feeling he would play as he was listed as questionable on the 49ers’ final injury report.

Mason, a third-year UDFA out of Georgia Tech, filled in for McCaffrey on Monday, running 147 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries in a 32-19 win over the Jets. But he also created controversy by claiming he was told he would start on Friday during a postgame interview.

Mason declined to answer a follow-up question after the game and Kyle Shanahan told reporters that the team told him he would have a heavier workload but that McCaffrey would still play. 

While a likely investigation will draw headlines, Vikings fans will be focused on McCaffrey’s status. The Vikings’ defense shut down the Giants rushing attack in Week 1, holding them to 74 rushing yards in a 28-6 victory, but Mason’s success against the Jets could mean it’s a moot point.

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