SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The 49ers were missing star running back Christian McCaffrey for Monday night’s game against the Jets, but it didn’t matter.
McCaffrey was announced as a surprise inactive before the game. The 28-year-old has been dealing with a calf strain that cost him four weeks of training camp, but he had returned to practice and was expected to play.
Even without McCaffrey, the 49ers rolled to a 32-19 victory over the Jets. The 49ers gained 180 yards rushing with 147 from backup Jordan Mason.
“They beat us up front, plain and simple,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said.
The 49ers listed McCaffrey this week as having a calf/Achilles injury, which raised some eyebrows. But McCaffrey told reporters on Friday that his calf was feeling “much better” and his Achilles is “not a concern for me.”
McCaffrey said he had no doubt that he would play against the Jets. Mason made his first career start in place of McCaffrey, who is the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year and rushing champion.
McCaffrey had 1,459 rushing yards on 272 carries and 14 rushing touchdowns. He had an additional 564 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.
The Jets spoke about preparing for McCaffrey all week. While the 49ers have many talented offensive players, McCaffrey is the unquestioned top weapon for San Francisco.
There was an odd sequence in the second quarter where CB Sauce Gardner was on the sideline for nine plays. Gardner was standing on the sideline with his helmet and the Jets said it was not injury related. After the game, both Saleh and Gardner said he was trying to catch his breath, which seemed like an odd explanation.
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“It was a tackle that I made and I just had to get my wind back,” Gardner said. “When I felt like I was good, I went back on the field.”
CB Michael Carter II exited the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury just days after the Jets signed him to a three-year contract extension. Saleh said Carter could have come back into the game but the Jets were being cautious. Saleh revealed that Carter’s ankle injury during training camp was a high-ankle sprain, an injury that can linger.
“It’s just something he’s going to have to deal with all year,” Saleh said.
The Jets signed OL Jake Hanson and LB Sam Eguavoen to the active roster before Monday night’s game off the practice squad. They also elevated TE Anthony Firkser and DE Jalyn Holmes from the practice squad. LB Zaire Barnes was placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least four games. The Jets also signed RB Kene Nwangwu to the practice squad. … The Jets inactives were RB Israel Abanikanda, CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, DE Eric Watts, OT Max Mitchell, OT Carter Warren, TE Brenden Bates and DT Leonard Taylor. … Frank Gore, who played for the Jets in 2020, was the honorary captain for the 49ers.
