SANTA CLARA – After completing a few workouts last week, Christian McCaffrey brushed aside any questions about his questionable availability for the 49ers’ opening game of the 2024 NFL season.

The 49ers, however, had different ideas.

McCaffrey was one of seven inactive players for the 49ers’ game against the New York Jets on Monday night at Levi’s Stadium. The star running back was limited in every practice last week due to calf and Achilles tendon injuries.

“It’s not a concern for me,” McCaffrey said Friday, adding that he had no doubt he would play against the Jets.

Listing McCaffrey as inactive clearly shows that the organization does not want to take any chances with their versatile star this early in the season.

Coach Kyle Shanahan described McCaffrey’s injury on Aug. 6 as a calf strain that was not expected to be a long-term injury. He returned to practice last week after a month off practice.

McCaffrey is coming off a season in which he was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He rushed for a league-best 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 67 passes for 564 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished third in the NFL MVP voting behind Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott.

With McCaffrey out of uniform against the Jets, the 49ers will start with Jordan Mason. The team’s backup running backs are veteran Patrick Taylor Jr. and rookie Isaac Guerendo.

Three other 49ers players were listed as inactive due to injuries: safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee), defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle).

The 49ers’ other inactive players for Monday’s game are quarterback Joshua Dobbs, cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. and offensive lineman Ben Bartch.

Dobbs will enter the game as the team’s No. 3 emergency quarterback behind starter Brock Purdy and backup Brandon Allen.

The 49ers had previously called up defensive end Sam Okuayinonu and safety Tracy Walker III from the practice squad to serve as substitutes on Monday night.

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