San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan believes Christian McCaffrey to be one of the best players in the NFL and knows just how much he’s missing his superstar running back – with fans concerned that he may not play this season.

McCaffrey missed training camp with a lingering calf issue before surprisingly being ruled out of the first game after Shanahan had continued to suggest that he’d be ready to play. After their week one game, Niners fans were rocked with the news that the team would be placing him on Injury Report (IR), meaning he must miss at least four games while struggling with Achilles tendinitis.

And last week, it was reported that McCaffrey would be going to Germany to see a specialist and potentially undergo treatment – with Niners fans now worrying about their season.

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Although his back-up, Jordan Mason, has filled in admirably in his place while sitting second in the league in rushing yards, the back is not the explosive playmaker that McCaffrey is as a receiver – limiting Shanahan’s playbook.

The Niners offensive guru play caller and head coach has already suggested that he feels McCaffrey to be the best offensive player in the league.

“He’s had the best year as an offensive player that I’ve been a part of,” Shanahan said. “It’s been on a lot of good offenses and some years with some really good players, but Christian has been amazing in every facet we’ve asked him. I mean, when we throw him the ball, when we hand off the ball, when we give it to other people and he’s got to block or just carry out being a distraction or a decoy, he’s amazing.

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“The durability he’s had, how hard he goes, how hard he practices, how hard he prepares, which started way before the season started, really just after last season ended. Just the consistency, physically and mentally, of what he does is second to none.”

Shanahan added at the end of the 2023 season: “When you get a lot of touchdowns, like he does, it’s because you’re usually a goal-line running back and you’re always getting those all the time. And he does that most of the time we’re there.

“But he scores from far out, too, and it’s just for him to get the numbers he’s had, the way he’s done it is kind of unheard of. There’s no doubt to me he’s been the best player in the league this year for an offensive player. I know we talk about MVP, so I’ll let the world decide about that, but it’s truly special.”

San Francisco had expected to be among the Super Bowl favorites with McCaffrey this season. However, they have started the season with a 1-2 record, with them set to face the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seahawks again, Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills in consecutive weeks in October and November.