Christian McCaffrey Expected to Play This Sunday.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 29: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers walks to the bench prior to the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Kyle Posey is the Senior Producer at *Niners Nation* and has been covering the San Francisco 49ers since 2019. A former FCS wide receiver and high school football coach with over 8 years of experience, Kyle brings a deep understanding of the game. His writing has appeared on multiple platforms, and he’s a frequent guest on various podcasts. With his strong football background and expertise in accounting, Kyle offers an analytical and data-driven approach to analyzing and covering the 49ers.

On Wednesday, the 49ers returned to practice with a lengthy injury report, as shared by head coach Kyle Shanahan:

**Did Not Participate:**

– DT Kevin Givens (groin)
– WR Chris Conley (hamstring)
– CB Charvarius Ward (personal)

**Limited Participation:**

– K Jake Moody (ankle)

**Injuries to Watch:**

– WR Deebo Samuel (ribs/oblique)
– WR Jauan Jennings (hip)
– RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/calf)
– DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)
– P Mitch Wishnowsky (back)
– OL Jon Feliciano (knee)

**Personal Note:**
CB Charvarius Ward is currently in Dallas, Texas, for the funeral of his 1-year-old daughter, Amani, which is scheduled for Friday.

**McCaffrey’s Status:**
Kyle Shanahan provided an update on McCaffrey, saying the star running back made it through Monday’s light practice without any pain or setbacks. As long as McCaffrey remains pain-free after the week’s practices, he’s expected to play, potentially with a full workload in his first game back. When asked about the specifics of McCaffrey’s usage, Shanahan gave a classic Bill Belichick-style answer: “It definitely could, but it definitely might not.”

Shanahan and McCaffrey don’t believe the running back’s current injuries are linked to the 20-game workload he carried last season. As Shanahan explained, “Things happen to a body. I don’t think that has to do with numbers. When a guy is healthy and performing well, they usually stay that way. I generally don’t think the workload from one season affects injuries the next year.”

The 49ers will continue to monitor McCaffrey’s progress and how he’s feeling in terms of his football conditioning. Outside of potential setbacks, that’s their primary concern moving forward.

Shanahan joked that he wouldn’t officially announce McCaffrey’s availability until game time. When asked what he needs to see from McCaffrey this week, Shanahan said, “That he’s just Christian McCaffrey and that he’s not hurting.”

He added, “As long as everything stays on track, like it has in rehab, it’s about avoiding any soreness or setbacks with each practice. If he’s sore during practice, it’s usually worse in a game. So, hopefully, he can string together three good days of practice with no issues.”

**Wide Receiver Updates:**
The return of Jauan Jennings will be crucial for the 49ers’ passing game, especially against a defense that leaves open areas where Jennings thrives.

Chris Conley’s continued absence after the bye week suggests his hamstring injury might be more serious than initially thought. This likely explains why the 49ers added a receiver familiar with Shanahan’s system to the practice squad.

With Jennings and Deebo Samuel expected to return as starting wideouts, along with rookie Ricky Pearsall in the mix, the 49ers’ receiving corps looks stronger. However, they’re still one injury away from needing to rely on Ronnie Bell, which is why bringing in a veteran like Russell Gage could prove valuable.

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