The absence of 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey from Monday Night Football was a shock to many fans, but not to his teammates.
Backup running back Jordan Mason told ESPN’s Lisa Salters after the game that he had already been informed of his starting position on Friday.
“When did I find out? Maybe Friday night,” Mason said after the game.
According to reports ahead of the game, McCaffrey was expected to play as he recovered from a calf injury sustained in early August.
Then on Monday evening, about 90 minutes before kick-off, it was suddenly reported that McCaffrey could not play.
If Mason had actually been told that McCaffrey would not play on Friday, the 49ers would face fines and punishment from league officials for concealing an injury.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan vehemently denied Mason’s comments immediately after the game.
“I never told Jordan he was going to be a starter,” Shanahan said after the game. “I told him he had to prepare well, but maybe Bobby (Turner) or someone else was trying to get him pumped up. He knew he had to play a lot, it wasn’t going to be the same as usual.”
During the postgame media briefing, reporters asked Mason when he was told McCaffrey would be on the bench against the Jets.
“That’s the question that makes me angry. That’s why I don’t like talking to the media. Because if you say something wrong… and you know… we skip that question,” Mason said.
Mason overran the Jets’ inferior defense during the game, carrying the ball 28 times for 147 yards, scoring one touchdown and catching his only pass for six yards.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reported shortly before Monday’s game that McCaffrey’s calf problem worsened on Friday, putting him in danger of not only missing Week 1, but also sitting out Week 2 against the Vikings.
“Christian McCaffrey stopped training on Friday,” Schefter said“They weren’t overly concerned, they thought it was no big deal, they thought and expected he might leave tonight.
“The problem was that he came in for treatment today and the calf was still tight. Let’s remember that he practically didn’t train all summer. It was not just the calf, but also his Achilles tendon, so we have two problems here. In the interest of a long season, they decided not to let him play tonight.
“Not only is Christian McCaffrey out tonight, but there’s a real chance he won’t play Sunday. They’re playing in Minnesota on turf on a shorter week… He’s inactive tonight and it looks very likely he won’t play Sunday either.
San Francisco did well without him in Week 1, taking a 32-19 win over the Jets and should be the clear favorite against the Vikings regardless of who starts at running back.
