The San Francisco 49ers may be favored over the Kansas City Chiefs, but they know if they’re going to beat the defending Super Bowl champions, they’re going to need to play their “A game.”
Of course, it makes it a whole lot easier to play your “A game” when you’re healthy, which is why Niners fans were holding their breath as they awaited health updates for their squad.
Fortunately, they’re expected to be close to full strength by the time Super Bowl LVIII kicks off a week from Sunday…
All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey assured fans that he will be at or near 100%, despite suffering a right shoulder injury during this past Sunday’s NFC Championship victory over the Detroit Lions.
As a matter of fact, head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t even list McCaffrey on the early injury report.
“My shoulder felt a little weird,” McCaffrey admitted.
McCaffrey said his shoulder “felt a little weird” at game’s end and he didn’t want to rush losing his grip on the ball. That’s why Elijah Mitchell got the late carries. McCaffrey said the shoulder’s not an issue. “I feel fine now,” he said.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) January 29, 2024
“I didn’t want to not be able to grip the ball, especially at a crucial time like that. And Mitch (running back Elijah Mitchell) is unbelievable. So he goes in there and gets a touchdown. I was happy and proud of him and our whole team. We scored. That’s all I cared about,” referring to when he checked himself out of the game following an ugly fall on his head.
At the end of the game Christian McCaffrey appeared to suffer a neck injury. @ProFootballDoc shares if it could impact his availability for the Super Bowl. #FTTB
➡️ https://t.co/nyVNuX7Vwl pic.twitter.com/6E8GTRI6GZ
— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) January 29, 2024
McCaffrey is one of the toughest players in the NFL. There’s zero doubt he’ll be on the field come Super Bowl Sunday.
Although, the neck tweak is something worth keeping an eye on…
Something to monitor moving forward
Christian McCaffrey getting ART on his neck pic.twitter.com/5AQdExZIVx
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) January 29, 2024
It’s a dream matchup for football fans. Storylines are plentiful and it would be shocking if it’s not a close, hard-fought game.
The 49ers opened as 2.5-point favorites – but the spread quickly plummeted to Niners -1 after early money came raining down on the Chiefs.
The 49ers opened as 2.5-point favorites and have already dropped to a single-point favorite 👀 pic.twitter.com/wZH1PyVrPs
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) January 29, 2024
McCaffrey, along with quarterback Brock Purdy, are the two most irreplaceable players on San Francisco.
Not too far behind is All-Pro tight end George Kittle.
Unfortunately, Kittle found himself on the injury report with a toe issue … Although it’s not expected to slow him down one bit come game time.
#49ers CB Ambry Thomas has an ankle injury. TE George Kittle has a toe issue. Both will be day to day as we head toward Super Bowl LVIII, according to Kyle Shanahan.
Niners otherwise made it out of Sunday night's game healthy.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) January 29, 2024
Kittle, who had two catches for 27 yards in the NFC Championship Game, played a vital role throughout the regular season where he hauled in 65 receptions for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns.
Who knows that any of us will still be alive in 2 weeks.
— Michael Walters (@saltman1988) January 30, 2024
At the end of the day, the Niners will be entering the Super Bowl as close to full strength as they could hope for.
What’s your prediction for the game?
Will Shanahan and the Niners FINALLY get over the hump and hoist the Lombardi?
Or will Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs go back-to-back and win yet ANOTHER Super Bowl???