It seems the San Francisco 49ers’ franchise is indeed in a tight spot as their star running back Christian McCaffrey has been diagnosed with an Achilles injury. Once deemed just a calf strain, this went on far enough to be diagnosed with Achilles tendinitis, which puts him out for at least four games. Management of McCaffrey’s injury only adds to raised eyebrows or flaws. There’s a choice to push him through practice—when it was clear he didn’t like doing this—that has now bitten the 49ers in the rear end.
49ers’ Miscalculation: McCaffrey’s Injury Oversight
Photo byJoseph BarrientosonUnsplash
It all starts with the farce of McCaffrey missing most of training camp and the preseason. Rather than taking precautions, the 49ers were too optimistic about his return to action in Week 1. They diluted the seriousness of the injury by saying that he should be fine. Injuries, however, are tricky. What is deemed a little calf strain would be a different story when it gets involved with the Achilles. That is the kind of foresight that was missing from the diagnosis of McCaffrey’s condition, which paved the way for what soon became apparent.…