Before Week 1 concluded, the San Francisco 49ers surprised the NFL world, particularly fantasy managers, with news of a calf strain to Christian McCaffrey. It was bothersome enough to sideline McCaffrey against the New York Jets. News broke of the injury about 90 minutes before kickoff in a game the Niners eventually won, 32-19.
Yahoo Sports has you covered with updates, news and notes from around the league as the season is now shifts to preparation for Week 2.
Let’s start with the Niners’ all-world running back.
The 49ers will have a short week to prepare for Sunday’s game at the Minnesota Vikings. Is that enough time for McCaffrey to be ready to go or will Jordan Mason carry the rock again?
Head coach Kyle Shanahan wasn’t definitive of McCaffrey’s status for Week 2, but he did respond to an ESPN report that said there’s a “real chance” that the running back wouldn’t play next weekend.
“It’s amazing. That person must be God,” Shanahan said after the 49ers’ victory against the Jets. “We just found out he wasn’t playing today. 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.”
Of McCaffrey’s leg injury, Shanahan also said: “It’s been lingering the last few weeks. But it’s getting better and better and hopefully it’ll be better next week.”
Rams star wideout Puka Nacua will go on the IR after suffering a sprained PCL on Sunday night against Detroit, Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Monday. Nacua will miss at least four games.
Nacua had four catches for 35 yards before leaving Sunday’s game. He was carted off the sideline after the second quarter and did not return.
Browns tight end David Njoku is considered “week-to-week,” according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. Njoku suffered an ankle injury during Cleveland’s blowout loss to Dallas. He underwent tests Monday and it remains to be seen if he’ll be available for the Browns’ Week 2 game against the Jaguars.
After a calf injury to Russell Wilson late in training camp put Justin Fields in the starting lineup for Week 1, the Steelers head into Week 2 with a question at quarterback after an 18-10 win at Atlanta in which Fields threw for 156 yards.
