49ers GM John Lynch Addresses Christian McCaffrey’s Achilles Rehab; Latest On RB’s Potential Return
SEPTEMBER 29: Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link), McCaffrey’s treatment in Germany went well, and he is back in the US. The three-time Pro Bowler could begin running on hard ground this week, and the club presently expects him back no later than early November.
SEPTEMBER 27: Among many other prominent players on the team, Christian McCaffrey remains sidelined for the 49ers. He is on injured reserve while recovering from the Achilles tendonitis which has affected him since the summer. 
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McCaffrey went to Germany earlier this week to consult with a specialist as he and the team aim to find the best route regarding his recovery. It remains to be seen when he will be able to approach a practice schedule (and therefore become a candidate to be designated for return). A ramp-up period could begin soon, however.
“We needed to quiet it down,” 49ers GM John Lynch said when discussing McCaffrey’s Achilles during a KNBR appearance. “The plan was to give it the time to do that and then at some point in a thoughtful way to ramp him back up… What he does and where he goes, he’s got people who work on his body and have for a long time… Now he’s back here and we’ll have to hit certain markers and try the ramp up.”
Having been moved to IR ahead of Week 2, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year will not be eligible to make his 2024 debut until Week 6. Considerable progress will need to be made for that timeline to be feasible, and the team will no doubt proceed with caution in McCaffrey’s case. He is far from the only professional athlete to travel to Germany while rehabbing an Achilles injury, and the fact he went there suggests he may have received an orthobiologic treatment.
Such treatment consists of stem-cell and platelet-rich plasma injections and is specifically focused on accelerating the healing process for injuries such as Achilles tendonitis. Dr. Kenton Fibel (the Anaheim Ducks’ medical director) recently spoke about the specifics of orthobiologic treatments – which are not FDA approved but are permitted by North American professional sports leagues – and how receiving one would impact McCaffrey’s recovery timeline.
“Usually whenever you’re having some sort of a biologic procedure for a tendon, particularly an Achilles tendon, typically that’s going to require you to have enough time to rest and protect the tendon after the procedure,” Fibel said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “And then start to progress things forward while the tissue has a chance to biologically start to heal and restructure… With some of these more important weight-bearing tendons, it’s pretty safe to say that they’re not returning within the first four weeks of the procedure.”
If McCaffrey did indeed receive an injection while in Germany, it will be interesting to see how he and the team proceed with a gradual ramp-up period. If not, further rest could be in store before a return to action becomes realistic. While he recovers, San Francisco will continue to rely on Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo in the backfield.
Raiders’ Davante Adams Facing Multi-Week Absence
Davante Adams is dealing with a hamstring injury, and he will be out of the Raiders’ lineup for tomorrow’s contest. The All-Pro wideout is set to be sidelined for a longer period, however. 
Adams’ injury occurred during Vegas’ Thursday practice, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Paul Gutierrez report he is expected to be out for multiple weeks. Hamstring injuries can often linger, and players prematurely returning to the field can lead to lengthier absences. The Raiders will no doubt proceed with caution in this case.
Since being acquired via trade in 2022, Adams as served as the team’s top wideout. The 31-year-old totaled 203 catches across his first two campaigns in Vegas, and expectations remain high for his output moving forward. His 209 yards lead the team in 2024, underscoring how impactful his absence will be in the passing game. While missed time could lower Adams’ trade value, the ESPN report reiterates such a move is not under consideration (as was the case during the offseason). Indeed, Schefter and Gutierrez note that the Raiders turned away multiple teams interested in a trade this offseason before those clubs could even make an offer.
Still, the six-time Pro Bowler was viewed in the build-up to the season as a trade candidate depending on how the campaign played out, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk openly wonders whether Adams has already played his last snaps for Las Vegas. The Raiders sit at 1-2 after a lopsided loss to the Panthers. Head coach Antonio Pierce made his displeasure clear in the aftermath of that contest, leading to speculation signficant changes could be coming. Quarterback Gardner Minshew remains atop the depth chart, however, and the veteran will now rely on other pass-catching options for the time being.
Tight end Brock Bowers has enjoyed a strong start to his rookie season, registering at least 41 yards in each game to date. Vegas’ top pick in April’s draft will be expected to take on a larger target share in Adams’ absence. At the receiver spot, veteran Jakobi Meyers is now positioned to handle an increased workload alongside fellow starter Tre Tucker. The latter posted 96 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions last week, and Vegas’ offense would welcome a repeat performance on Sunday.
Placing Adams on injured reserve would require a four-game absence. It remains to be seen if such a move becomes necessary, but his status will be worth watching closely over the near future as the Raiders (a team which will be without Maxx Crosby on Sunday) look to avoid a 1-3 start to the season.
Lions Place S Ifeatu Melifonwu On IR
Ifeatu Melifonwu has yet to play this season, and his 2024 debut will be delayed for a notable stretch. The fourth-year safety was placed on injured reserve Saturday, per a team announcement. 
Melifonwu suffered an ankle injury in practice earlier this month. It kept him sidelined through the first three weeks of the campaign, and today’s move confirms a lengthy recovery period is still needed. The 2021 third-rounder will miss at least the next four games as a result of the IR move.
Drafted as a corner, Melifonwu primarily played on the boundary during his rookie campaign. He logged a 53% snap share that year, although he was limited to only seven games. The 25-year-old transitioned to safety the following campaign, but he also played sparingly at cornerback. The 2022 season was also shortened by injury, as Melifonwu suited up for just 10 contests.
Things took a positive turn on the health front last year, with the Syracuse product managing to remain healthy for a full season. Melifonwu played all 20 of the Lions’ regular and postseason games, combining to make nine starts across that span. He collected the first two interceptions of his career and posted three sacks during the year; Melifonwu added a pair of sacks in the playoffs. That production has been missed in the secondary this season, and his absence will continue to be be acutely felt for the foreseeable future.
Detroit has Kerby Joseph in place as a full-time safety starter with Brian Branch available as a versatile contributor on the backend. With Melifonwu still on the mend, Brandon Joseph is in place to continue in a backup/special teams role. The Lions’ defense has performed well in a number of categories this year, but the unit – one which was the focus of several cornerback moves during the offseason – currently ranks just 19th against the pass. Melifonwu returning to health could help in that regard, but it remains to be seen when that will be the case.
As a pending free agent, Melifonwu’s latest injury issue has come at a particularly problematic time. His value is in danger of taking a hit as he continues to miss considerable time, something confirmed by today’s transaction.
Chargers’ Justin Herbert Expected To Play In Week 4
The Chargers will be shorthanded along the offensive line during their Week 4 game against the Chiefs. They are on track to have Justin Herbert available, however. 
Los Angeles’ franchise passer is expected to play tomorrow, Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. As long as a last-minute setback does not occur regarding Herbert’s high ankle sprain, he will be in the lineup against Kansas City. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds Herbert made it through the practice week without issue and that he is feeling better now than he was ahead of last week’s contest.
That game saw the 26-year-old exit after taking a sack which aggravated his ankle sprain. Herbert’s availability was in doubt for the following contest, but he quickly expressed optimism he would be able to suit up for Week 4. Signs pointed in that direction midweek, so today’s update comes as little surprise. Herbert will likely have two backup offensive tackles protecting him as he aims to play a full game, though.
Left tackle Rashawn Slater has been ruled out due to the pectoral injury he suffered last week. Rookie right tackle Joe Alt, meanwhile, has been downgraded to doubtful as a result of his MCL sprain. This year’s No. 5 pick is expected to miss time, so he is likely to join the likes of Slater and edge rusher Joey Bosa on the inactive list tomorrow.
The Chargers started 2-0 to kick off Jim Harbaugh‘s tenure as head coach, but Week 3 resulted in a 20-10 loss to the Steelers. The team’s offense was entirely ineffective during the second half, a discouraging sign for backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke if he finds himself back on the field at some point on Sunday. If all goes well, though, it will be Herbert in place throughout the contest.
Jaguars Place LB Foye Oluokun On IR
TODAY, 12:50pm: Oluokun has officially landed on injured reserve. The team announced that they’ve placed the injured linebacker on IR, keeping him off the field for at least the next four weeks. Oluokun will be eligible for reinstatement in Week 8.
TUESDAY, 6:30pm: The Jaguars fell to 0-3 on Monday night, and the team’s defense suffered a blow in the process. Linebacker Foye Oluokun is dealing with plantar fasciitis, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. 
As a result, Oluokun is expected to miss multiple weeks. Pelissero notes the worst-case scenario has been avoided in this instance, adding that no surgery will be needed. Nonetheless, this news means Jacksonville will be shorthanded at the second level on defense for a stretch. It will be interesting to see if injured reserve comes into play.
An IR stint would guarantee at least a four-week absence and deal a blow to the Jaguars’ ability to recover from a poor start to the year. In any case, being without Oluokun will create a notable linebacker vacancy. The 29-year-old is consistently among the league’s top tacklers, and he led the NFL with 184 stops during his debut Jags campaign (2022). He had matched that feat the year prior, and 2023 saw the former Falcon amass 173 stops. Prior to the injury, Oluokun racked up a team-leading 22 tackles while logging a heavy defensive workload.
The former sixth-rounder was one of several incumbent players who landed a Jaguars extension this offseason. Oluokun inked a three-year, $30MM deal in March; as a result, he is on the books through 2027. Missing him for any period will be acutely felt by Jacksonville, a team which ranks 11th against the run this year but sits near the bottom in a number of other defensive categories.
2022 first-rounder Devin Lloyd is still in the fold as a linebacker starter for the Jags. He comfortably reached triple-digit tackles in each of his first two seasons, and the 25-year-old will be counted on to remain productive with Oluokun temporarily unavailable. The likes of Chad Muma, Caleb Johnson, Ventrell Miller and Yasir Abdullah represent the team’s options on the active roster to take on a first-team role. No member of that group is attached to a big-ticket deal, a sign of Jacksonville’s reliance on Oluokun to serve as an anchor at the second level.
The Jaguars designated Keilan Robinson and Andrew Wingard for return ahead of the roster cutdown deadline. That will use up two of the team’s eight IR activations, something which will be taken into account regarding an IR move in Oluokun’s case. His prognosis will be worth watching closely as the team braces for multiple games without him in the fold.
Tua Tagovailoa Making Strides In Recovery
Tua Tagovailoa remains on injured reserve, but signs still point to him being available later in the 2024 season. Miami’s franchise quarterback has been with the team while recovering from his latest concussion, while the Dolphins do not appear to be seeking out further additions under center. 
Skylar Thompson served as the starting quarterback in Week 3, a game in which the Dolphins were beaten handily by the Seahawks. Tagovailoa traveled with the team for that cross-country contest, and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted on a Rich Eisen Show appearance Tagovailoa has received clearance to perform all regular activities short of playing (video link). That is an positive sign of his progress while the 26-year-old attempts to return to action.
Miami quickly made a move in the wake of Tagovailoa’s Week 2 concussion, signing Tyler Huntley off the Ravens’ practice squad. The former UDFA eyed a Dolphins agreement once Tagovailoa went down, and he could get the nod for Week 4 as Thompson deals with a rib injury. Huntley, Thompson and Tim Boyle represent Miami’s options as things stand, and Pelissero confirms no contact has been made with the Broncos or Steelers to gauge the availability of Zach Wilson or Russell Wilson.
With the Dolphins remaining confident in their incumbent signal-callers for the time being, attention will remain focused on Tagovailoa’s recovery timeline. Last year’s passing leader cannot be activated until at least Week 8, and the team’s decision to move him to IR is a sign of the cautious approach being taken with him. If Tagovailoa manages to avoid setbacks with respect to concussion symptoms over the coming weeks, he will be positioned to resume practicing ahead of a return to the playing field.
With Miami sitting at 1-2 on the year, it remains to be seen if the team will be in contention for a postseason berth by the time Tagovailoa is available to be activated. His recovery process seems to be in a good place for the time being, however, which is an encouraging development for team and player.
49ers LB Curtis Robinson Suffers ACL Tear
Curtis Robinson‘s 2024 campaign has come to an abrupt end. The fourth-year linebacker suffered an ACL tear in practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday. 
As a result, Robinson will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. The 26-year-old is on track to become an exclusive rights restricted free agent during the spring, but today’s news obviously hurts his chances of being tendered by the 49ers. Robinson has proven to be a key special teams presence during his time in the Bay Area, and his absence will be felt in that regard.
After spending much of his rookie campaign in Denver, Robinson joined the 49ers in a bid to land a full-time spot on the team’s active roster. The former UDFA has gone on to make 12 appearances since, including three this season. San Francisco’s linebacker position is thin as things stand with Dre Greenlaw rehabbing the Achilles tear he suffered in the Super Bowl. Greenlaw is expected to be available around the midway point of the campaign.
In the meantime, Robinson was in position to handle backup defensive duties in addition to his notable third phase responsibilities. His 59 special team snaps lead the team so far this year, so replacing him especially while Greenlaw is sidelined will be challenging. This news marks another blow to the 49ers on the injury front as the team aims to rebound from a 1-2 start.
San Francisco currently ranks 30th in the league in special teams DVOA, so that unit was already poorly positioned to suffer an injury to one of its top members. Nevertheless, the 49ers will move forward while Robinson’s attention will turn to a lengthy rehab process ahead of free agency and the 2025 campaign.
Cowboys’ Micah Parsons Suffers High Ankle Sprain; DeMarcus Lawrence Facing Multi-Week Absence
3:25pm: Parsons is facing a recovery timeline of two to four weeks, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports. It would thus come as a signficant surprise if he managed to suit up against the Steelers in Week 5. Lawrence, meanwhile, is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, per Archer. The full severity of his injury is not yet known, but he will likely not be back before the Cowboys’ Week 7 bye.
1:13pm: The Cowboys earned an important win on Thursday night, but the team did suffer multiple injury scares on defense. Edge rusher Micah Parsons is dealing with a high ankle sprain, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
The two-time All-Pro exited Dallas’ win over the Giants late in the fourth quarter. X-rays taken after the contest came back negative, he said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). An MRI was taken on Friday, though, and it has confirmed a sprain. Rapoport adds Parsons’ status is uncertain at this point.
The worst-case scenario has certainly be avoided in this instance, but the possibility still remains for Parsons to miss time. Dallas has a 10-day break between games by virtue of playing on Thursday, which could prove to be highly beneficial. The 25-year-old indicated he intends to play in Week 5, but his progress in recovery over the coming days will of course dictate if that is possible.
The news is not as encouraging in the case of fellow edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence. The four-time Pro Bowler exited last night’s contest with a foot injury and did not return. Lawrence also underwent an MRI on Friday, and Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero reports a multi-week absence should be expected. As a result, at least one of Dallas’ top two pass rushers will likely be sidelined until after the team’s Week 7 bye.
The Cowboys have totaled eight sacks this season; Lawrence and Parsons account for five of those. Especially with Sam Williams out for the year, depth along the edge will be a question mark with one (or potentially both) set to miss time. Dallas sits at 2-2 on the year, and a repeat of performances from the team’s defense last night will be needed for momentum to build through the remainder of the campaign. That will be challenging if the unit is shorthanded for a signficant period.
Parsons remains attached to his rookie contract, but negotiations on a monster extension will take place during the offseason. Lawrence, meanwhile, is one of Dallas’ top pending free agents this spring, and his market could take a hit if he misses notable time. As the Cowboys consider their options for a midseason rental addition, edge rush could become a position to watch.
Kliff Kingsbury Addresses Return To Coaching, Commanders Hire
When Kliff Kingsbury was fired as head coach of the Cardinals last January, his coaching future was in doubt. He found himself back in the NFL this offseason, however, and his tenure as offensive coordinator of the Commanders has been impressive to date. 
“I really didn’t think I was ever going to coach again,” Kingsbury recalled during an interview with Sam Fortier of the Washington Post. “It was set up so perfectly just to ride off into the sunset.”
The 45-year-old served as coach of the Cardinals from 2019-22, with his first three campaigns producing year-over-year improvement in the win-loss department. The final campaign of that tenure produced a 4-13 record, though, and it came as little surprise when the organization cleaned house. Kingsbury took a trip to Thailand while contemplating his future before ultimately taking a gig on Lincoln Riley‘s USC staff for the 2023 season.
That one-and-done tenure did not produce a desire to remain at the college level on a full-time basis. Kingsbury – who served as Texas Tech’s head coach for six years – noted he does not intend to return to the NCAA level in the near future. He drew considerable interest on the NFL coordinator market during the winter, interviewing with the Bears and Eagles. Kingsbury added he was prepared to take those gigs, but both teams went in a different direction.
A deal then appeared to be in place with the Raiders for their offensive coordinator spot. The agreement fell through, however, and Kingsbury’s interview reveals Vegas offered him a two-year contract. He was aiming for a three-year pact, and that sticking point paved the way for Dan Quinn hiring him to lead Washington’s offense. While minority owner Magic Johnson was initially believed to have played a role in Kingsbury winding up in the nation’s capital, Kingsbury confirmed that was not the case.
Using second overall pick Jayden Daniels at quarterback right away during his rookie season, the Commanders have impressed so far on offense. Washington ranks fifth in scoring and sixth in yardage, and the team has not punted over the past two games. Daniels has yet to commit a turnover, and remaining comfortable in Kingsbury’s scheme could allow Washington to exceed expectations moving forward. In that event, Kingsbury’s head coaching stock could become something to monitor for future hiring cycles.
Titans Place CB Chidobe Awuzie On IR
SEPTEMBER 27: Awuzie has indeed been placed on IR, per a team announcement. A notable absence is thus in store as the team looks to rebound from an underwhelming start to the campaign.
SEPTEMBER 23: A groin injury might lead to an extended absence for Chidobe Awuzie. The veteran corner could be placed on injured reserve, Titans head coach Brian Callahan said on Monday. 
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An IR move would guarantee at least a four-game absence. Callahan said injured reserve is “definitely a possibility” at this point (h/t Terry McCormick of Titans Insider), so it would come as no surprise if the team were to take that route. Missing Awuzie for any period will leave the 0-3 Titans without a starter in the secondary.
The 29-year-old began his career with the Cowboys before a three-year stint with the Bengals. Awuzie followed Callahan from Cincinnati to Tennessee this offseason on a three-year, $36MM pact. That commitment illustrates the Titans’ confidence in the second-rounder’s ability to return to his pre-2022 ACL tear form. Awuzie started all three games during his debut campaign in Nashville, collecting four tackles.
Tennessee also has returnee Roger McCreary in place at the cornerback spot, along with trade acquisition L’Jarius Sneed. The latter was franchise-tagged by the Chiefs this offseason, but team and player were unable to come to terms on a long-term deal, prompting the trade. Sneed inked a four-year, $76.4MM contract upon arrival with the Titans, and he will be counted on to remain a focal point in the secondary with Awuzie out of the picture.
Jarvis Brownlee is now in position to take on a starting role for the Titans. The fifth-round rookie has played each game so far this year, logging a minor defensive role in addition to a notable special teams workload. In terms of depth, Tre Avery is a candidate to be promoted from the practice squad to the active roster while Awuzie recovers.