Christian McCaffrey may want to return vs. Rams after they reunite with 'old friend'
By Peter Panacy
Despite a nagging injury, Christian McCaffrey might want to get back on the field against the Rams in Week 3 after they re-signed Ahkello Witherspoon.
The San Francisco 49ers could be without their star running back, Christian McCaffrey, for a while.
McCaffrey, who was a late scratch in the Niners' 2024 season opener against the New York Jets, is dealing with both calf and Achilles injuries, and those setbacks are putting his Week 2 availability against the Minnesota Vikings in doubt.
It might be wise for head coach Kyle Shanahan to keep McCaffrey from further injury, banking on backup running back Jordan Mason having a similar game like the one he enjoyed in Week 1 where he rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown.
However, given some recent news, McCaffrey might be clawing to get back on the field for the Niners' Week 3 game, a road contest in Southern California against their division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams.
Rams reunite with Christian McCaffrey's 'old friend,' Ahkello Witherspoon
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, LA is making a free-agent move by grabbing veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.
San Francisco fans should be familiar with Witherspoon, whom the team drafted in Round 3 back in 2017 and employed him for four years before he left via free agency.
McCaffrey might not have a long-term history with Witherspoon, but he's up-close-and-personally familiar with the defensive back, particularly after their "friendly" intercation when the 49ers visited Los Angeles last season.
The altercation between the two after a nasty McCaffrey stiff-arm turned into a postgame question, one that McCaffrey had a rather humorous response:
"'What's up, man? Good to see you,'" McCaffrey sarcastically responded when asked what was said between him and Witherspoon. "A casual conversation."
Those lip readers out there probably disagreed.
Either way, McCaffrey might want to drum up his efforts to get back on the field in time for Week 3 when he'll have a chance to connect with Witherspoon again on all but the friendliest of terms.
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