San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has rubbished claims that the team is likely to be without starting running back Christian McCaffrey in week two after he was forced to sit out of the season opener.
McCaffrey missed the Niners' opening game against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, which his side won comfortably with his backup stepping in and impressing with 147 yards and a touchdown. But the Niners know that they'll need their superstar back, who won Offensive Player of the Year last season but has struggled with injuries throughout his career.
The running back has carried Achilles and calf injuries through training camp with him believed to be ready for the season, but letting the team know that he did not feel ready with the head coach taking no risks.
After the announcement that he'd miss game one, multiple reports suggested that the team has long feared that he could miss time to begin the season - with some suggesting that he's likely to miss the Niners game this Sunday when they face the Minnesota Vikings.
When asked about the team's fears on McCaffrey's health, Shanahan said: "That's amazing... That person must be God because we just found out he wasn't playing today, and I have no idea how he's going to feel tomorrow or the next day. I thought he was playing this whole week until today, so I don't know who knows that he's not playing next week."
When asked why McCaffrey could not go in the game, the head coach explained: "Just the same stuff that was bothering him all week. There was a little too much today, a game-time decision. He came in, just talking to him about it, it was still there. Thought it was going to be smart to keep him out, and glad we did."
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And in positive news for Niners fans, Shanahan has not ruled out a return for McCaffrey in week two, stating: "No, he didn't have a setback. I mean, it was on and off throughout the week. He was able to practice throughout the week.
"It was always bothering him to a degree, and sometimes it goes away, sometimes it comes back. And today, it was bothering him a little too much to where we didn't feel good about it."
The Niners saw both Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams return to the team on the week of the season beginning, with their dominant win over the Jets sending a statement to the rest of the league that they look ready to contend for a Super Bowl once again.
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