The San Francisco 49ers had an unusual amount of drama this preseason before Week 1. With the contract dispute between Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams dominating the coverage, far less attention was paid to the usual early-season injuries. However, Niners superstar running back Christian McCaffrey was dealing with a calf/Achilles injury.

While McCaffrey was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday, according to the 49ers’ injury report, the Stanford player insisted he will play on Monday against the New York Jets. When asked by reporters if he was worried his injury could hold him back, McCaffrey replied, “No, I’m not worried.”

The 49ers are currently clear favorites (-215) over the Jets (+180) to win the game at FanDuel Sportsbook. Needless to say, it’s much easier to be confident that San Francisco can live up to its status as a clear favorite when McCaffrey is on the field.

The line has fluctuated between a 3.5 favorite and a 4.5 favorite for the Niners, likely due to uncertainty about what will happen with the left tackle or how involved Aiyuk will be, not to mention McCaffrey’s status.

The dynamic running back is coming off an incredible 2023 season. Last season, he led the NFL with 339 touches and 1,459 rushing yards. He also collected 564 receiving yards and scored 21 touchdowns.

With McCaffrey out or even limited, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan will likely rely on Jordan Mason as a backup. Mason has been quite productive on the ground throughout his career, but McCaffrey’s unique skills as a receiver provide a valuable opportunity for quarterback Brock Purdy and help Shanahan create gaps for other wideouts in the passing game.