Few offensive weapons have been as impactful as Christian McCaffrey has this season.
The ex-Panthers running back has found a home with the 49ers, entering Week 17 with 1,932 scrimmage yards and 21 total touchdowns through 15 games. McCaffrey has been so dominant that he's made himself an MVP candidate, though San Francisco has loftier goals than just individual awards.
The 49ers will need McCaffrey if they want to enter the playoffs as Super Bowl favorites, but an injury suffered by the 27-year-old on Sunday against the Commanders could threaten his availability as the regular season nears an end.
Here are the latest injury updates on McCaffrey after the 49ers star exited during Sunday's game.
Christian McCaffrey injury update
The 49ers listed McCaffrey as questionable to return to Sunday's game with a calf injury but he did not re-enter the game. They extended their lead over Washington shortly after the injury report and had no need to bring him back in a game they eventually won 27-10.
#49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) is questionable to return. He was spotted getting tape applied to the back of his calf on the sidelines.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 31, 2023
McCaffrey was seen receiving medical attention during the second half, getting his calf taped up on the sideline. However, he was also running along the sideline as he tested out his calf, so the injury doesn't appear to be serious.
Calf injuries often linger, as Bengals QB Joe Burrow found out after his calf strain suffered in July continued to bother him into the regular season.
However, McCaffrey downplayed the injury after the game, calling it "pretty minor."
"We think he'll be alright," coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game.
Meeting with reporters Monday, Shanahan said the diagnosis is a "mild calf strain" and McCaffrey will sit out the Week 18 game against the Rams.
The 49ers have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC, so they didn't have to think twice about letting their star back heal up before the playoffs.
Elijah Mitchell, who scored a touchdown against Washington, figures to see the bulk of carries with McCaffrey and other starters likely resting in Week 18.