Christian McCaffrey is listed as questionable with an oblique injury but maintains he feels “great” and will probably face the Minnesota Vikings Monday. The news wasn’t as good regarding Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams. Samuel had additional tests done on his ailing shoulder. A hairline fracture was detected, and he will miss at least the next two games heading into the bye, coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. “He had X-rays and MRIs early in the week and didn’t have anything,” Shanahan said. “The pain was there, so he had a CT scan taken the other day ad they found a hairline fracture.” Shanahan said there was no consideration at this time to place Samuel on injured reserve which would mean a minimum four-game absence. Williams was listed as “doubtful” with an ankle injury, didn’t practice all week and almost certainly will be replaced by Jaylon Moore in the starting lineup against Minnesota. McCaffrey was on the field practicing with his teammates Saturday during the media window. A Monday night game gives players an extra day to heal up, which 49ers general manager John Lynch said is a bigger deal than it may seem. “It’s a good thing we had the extra day of preparation,” Lynch said Friday during his weekly appearance on KNBR. “To me, as a player, it was always a day and a half because you don’t play until Monday night. That sounds like a little bit, but it’s a lot, especially when you’re coming off a game like that.” McCaffrey, who leads the NFL with 553 yards rushing and is second to Miami’s Tyreek Hill (823) in yards from scrimmage with 730, hasn’t been sidelined since missing the last five games of the 2021 season with the Carolina Panthers with an ankle injury. He has scored a touchdown in 16 straight games (including playoffs) for the 49ers and has played in the his last 26 games (six with Carolina and then 20 including playoffs with the 49ers after being acquired by trade on Oct. 20, 2022). The 49ers have Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason at the ready if McCaffrey is unable to play. Samuel has 20 receptions for 302 yards and a touchdown this season plus 19 rushes for 95 yards rushing and another touchdown in six games. He was injured by a blow to the shoulder on his first carry in the Cleveland loss. He missed four games last season with hamstring and ankle issues and had played in his last 10 games including the postseason after sitting out Weeks 14, 15 and 16 with the ankle sprain. With Samuel out, it means more opportunities for Ray-Ray McCloud, Jauan Jennings and Ronnie Bell opposite starter Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers could also call up a receiver from the practice squad Saturday. Williams last missed a game in Week 6 of last season, missing three in all with a high ankle sprain in a Week 3 loss in Denver. He missed two games in 2021, one with an ankle sprain and the regular season finale against the Rams with an elbow injury. Moore is next in line to start at left tackle. Moore last started in Weeks 5 and 6 last season when Williams was out with a high ankle sprain. Colton McKivitiz, who is now the starting right tackle, started in Week 4 but left with a knee injury after 32 snaps against the Los Angeles Rams. ©2023 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
