The San Francisco 49ers secured a win over the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, with backup running back Jordan Mason making his first career start in place of the injured Christian McCaffrey. Mason took full advantage of the opportunity, rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown while sharing responsibilities with Deebo Samuel Jr. He also caught a five-yard pass, helping lead the 49ers to a 32-19 victory in their season opener. After the game, Mason told ESPN’s Lisa Salters that he knew by Friday he would be starting, even though the team officially ruled McCaffrey out just hours before the game.
When asked about Mason’s comments, 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan disputed the claim, saying he didn’t confirm Mason as the starter until Monday. He explained that although Mason was told to be prepared for significant playtime due to McCaffrey’s injury, the decision wasn’t finalized until game day. Shanahan added, “I never told Jordan he was starting. I told him he’d have to be ready, but maybe [Robert Turner Jr.] or someone else tried to hype him up. I knew he would play a lot, but he didn’t know he was starting until today.”
Shanahan also addressed McCaffrey’s calf injury, stating that it had been fluctuating throughout the week but worsened on Monday, preventing him from playing. The delay in announcing McCaffrey’s absence led to frustration among fans, particularly those involved in fantasy football and sports betting. The 49ers will aim to move past this early-season drama as they prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 15 at 2 p.m. ET.
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49ers Facing Heavy Criticism Over Christian McCaffrey Situation.
Fantasy football players are upset with how the San Francisco 49ers handled the injury to star running back Christian McCaffrey ahead of their Monday Night Football game against the New York Jets.
The 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year was ruled out just one hour before kickoff in the season opener at Levi’s Stadium.
One possible explanation for the late decision could be that head coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff considered McCaffrey a game-time decision. However, backup running back Jordan Mason told ESPN’s Lisa Salters that the call for him to start was made as early as “maybe Friday night.”
