Is Christian McCaffrey Playing Tonight? MRI Was ‘Encouraging’ After Rib Injury

Sophie Hanson
·5 min read
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He’s one of the NFL’s most talented running backs and with such significant fantasy football implications, everyone wants to know if Christian McCaffrey is playing tonight.

Born on June 7, 1996, he hails from a family with a strong football background; his father, Ed McCaffrey, was an NFL wide receiver. Christian McCaffrey played college football at Stanford University, where he achieved significant recognition as a running back and return specialist.

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In 2017, McCaffrey was selected eighth overall in the NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He quickly emerged as one of the league’s most dynamic and multifaceted offensive players. McCaffrey’s standout skills include his ability to excel both as a rusher and a receiver, making him a dual-threat weapon. He set numerous records and received several accolades, including being named First-Team All-Pro and earning Pro Bowl selections. In October 2022, the Panthers traded McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers for 2023 second, third, and fourth-round picks and a 2024 fifth-round pick.

“The example he sets for everybody and the guy is, I mean, he reminds me of just a basic mentality, like a walk-on guy who’s just trying to get people’s attention for working so hard,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on the one-year anniversary of McCaffrey’s move to California, per Newsweek. “Just how good he has been from what you guys have seen, how dependable he has been, how reliable he has been, how he learns everything, not just the running backs and stuff. So, it’s real easy to put a lot on his plate, move him around each week,” he said.

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“I think just the example he sets for everybody and the guy is, I mean, he reminds me of just a basic mentality, like a walk-on guy, who’s just trying to get people’s attention for working so hard. He is one of the most talented guys in the league and was in college coming out and every single play it’s like the biggest thing in the world, whether he is getting the ball or not. It’s a really great example of how to be as a football player.”

But during week 6 of the NFL’s 2023/24 season, McCaffrey sustained an oblique injury, stepping off the field in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns and didn’t return. All signs indicate that it wasn’t as bad as first thought, so here’s if Christian McCaffrey is playing tonight against the Minnesota Vikings.

Is Christian McCaffrey playing tonight?

Is Christian McCaffrey playing tonight?
Is Christian McCaffrey playing tonight?

“Is Christian McCaffrey playing tonight?” is the question on everyone’s lips, especially those who have him on their fantasy football roster, and according to multiple reports on Sunday and Monday, McCaffrey is expected to play in Minnesota. In a brief press conference with reporters before the 49er’s departure to Vikings territory, the all-star RB said he was feeling “great”. McCaffrey’s injury was initially listed as rib/oblique and he underwent an MRI to assess the problem on Monday, but his recovery has gone really well.

Coach Shanahan explained to Yahoo Sports that his MRI was encouraging. “I thought it was,” he said of McCaffrey on Thursday October 19. “Anybody who’s day to day, means they have a chance.” However, CMC (as he’s widely known) didn’t participate in practice on the Thursday leading into Monday night’s game.

This season, McCaffrey has generated 110 carries and 23 catches, a 22.17 touch-per-game average. Extrapolated over 17 games, CMC’s pace would put him at 377 touches for the season. Shanahan added that he felt the all-star running back’s workload was sustainable. “I mean, we treat him as our starting running back,” the coach responded. “So, I don’t really 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, and we’ll see how the rest of the year goes.”

When it comes to fantasy football, McCaffrey told MAXIM that it—including his bragging rights as one of the most in-demand players—isn’t really talked about with his fellow players.

“It’s never discussed; I don’t know if I’ve ever had a fantasy football conversation in an NFL locker room. I think the thing with fantasy is especially offensive skill players have mixed emotions about what it’s done for our game,” he said in June 2023. “Obviously we love it because it’s brought so many new viewers into football, but at the same time part of what makes football so great is the team aspect, and certain plays—say if you pick up a blitz that leads to someone throwing a touchdown, that’s a big play that might not go on the fantasy sheet but that’s rewarded in our game. It’s a selfless game.”

He continued: “When it comes to my experience and just my interactions with fans, sometimes that’s all anyone talks about. People are fans of specific people rather than the overall team. You could have a great game on film, but your fantasy owners might hate you. It’s good and bad for the game. But to your question, not a lot of fantasy conversations in the locker room.”

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