The 49ers' final leg of their five-game bird gauntlet lies ahead. After dispatching the Eagles, Cardinals, and Seahawks twice, San Francisco will host their toughest opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, on Christmas Day.
Injury notes, new addition
Shanahan provided injury updates on a handful of players, as the interior of the 49ers' defensive line remains as thin as it's been all year.
Second-year player Kalia Davis was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, opening a roster spot which the 49ers used to promote veteran running back Jeremy McNichols from the practice squad. The team also signed defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth to the practice squad.
McNichols' addition to the active roster may not be permanent, and could be used as a way to create the extra practice squad spot, give McNichols some extra cash for his time on the active roster as someone who won't be subject to waivers if cut. He could also find a potential special teams role for himself with Elijah Mitchell dealing with a knee injury, leaving Jordan Mason as the No. 2 back.
The 49ers need the extra interior presence of Stallworth for practice alone. Shanahan provided the following updates ahead of Thursday's first practice of the week:
Won't practice:
- DT Arik Armstead (foot/knee)
- DT Javon Hargrave (hamstring)
- TE Ross Dwelley (ankle)
- LB Oren Burks (knee)
- RB Elijah Mitchell (knee)
- WR Jauan Jennings (concussion protocol)
Limited
- DE Clelin Ferrell (ankle)
It's a situation which keeps the 49ers threadbare in the interior of the defensive, something that could pose a major problem against Lamar Jackson.
Christian McCaffrey's lone mistake in borderline MVP season
There is almost nothing to criticize about Christian McCaffrey's 2023 campaign. "Almost" is the operative term there.
Kyle Shanahan found exactly one thing to criticize about McCaffrey this season: his flop against the Eagles.
"When he flopped versus Philly? I saw that," Shanahan said. "And I thought that's the only thing he didn't do very well this year. It wasn't the best flop. It can't be so obvious.
You want guys to do that. You're not allowed a to touch guys after the play. So sometimes guys can't see it because it happens so fast. But they can see your reaction. But you don't want it to turn into the NBA too fast."
Even the referee laughed at McCaffrey's attempt in the moment. But again, it's the only thing laughable about his season.
He is a borderline MVP candidate whose numbers will likely fall just shy of the historical Shawn Alexander/LaDainian Tomlinson threshold in their respective 28 and 31-touchdown, back-to-back MVP seasons in 2005 and 2006.
It's an award that will likely default to a quarterback without a skill position player setting or coming close to a historical precedent.
Brock Purdy, the odds-on MVP favorite, will have a chance to cement his case against fellow MVP hopeful Lamar Jackson, who anchors an offense with far fewer weapons than Purdy. He's 12 passing touchdowns shy of Purdy's 29, with both at 7 interceptions, and has 690 fewer passing yards.
Jackson is, however, on pace to be the first NFL quarterback with 3,700 passing yards and 900 rushing yards (on pace for 3,770 passing yards and 900 rushing yards), which is one of those admittedly niche, but simultaneously impressive stats.
If McCaffrey was to make a final, serious push for MVP, Monday night against Baltimore would be the place to do it. He is currently on pace to finish the season with 1,568 rushing yards, 15 or 16 rushing TDs, 618 receiving yards and 8 or 9 receiving TDs.
If the 49ers beat the Ravens and McCaffrey has one of those not-so-rare multi-TD games, especially on the ground - but probably needing a poor game from Purdy - it might give his candidacy the slightest bit of life.