The 49ers might be getting their star back just in time! NFL insider Adam Schefter just hit us with a bombshell on the ‘Gram, revealing some game-changing news about Christian McCaffrey’s return.

“More good 49ers news: Pro-Bowl RB Christian McCaffrey, who missed most of training camp with a strained calf, is expected to return to practice today, per source,” ESPN’s Schefter captioned his IG post. That’s right—McCaffrey’s calf injury, which had us all on edge, is looking like old news. With the Niners gearing up to face the Jets in just six days, this is the kind of boost they needed.

Last season, CMC was on absolute fire. He lit up the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards, piled on 564 receiving yards, and punched in 21 TDs. That killer season snagged him Offensive Player of the Year, three Pro Bowl invites, and two First-Team All-Pro spots. After struggling with injuries in 2020 and 2021, McCaffrey came back swinging last year, proving he’s better than ever.

But what if the injury had kept him out longer? No stress. The Niners had solid backups like Jordan Mason, who’s averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and rookie Isaac Guerendo, who’s got some serious athletic skills. But let’s be real—the Stanford Cardinal standout’s game-changing abilities are in a league of their own.

In other injury news, Justin Herbert’s on the mend, Hollywood Brown’s looking pretty sharp, and Ricky Pearsall’s set to roll. With these stars coming back, the season’s going to be a thrilling ride.

Week 1 injury reports: Key players in the spotlight 

NFL teams are hustling hard to lock down their game plans for Week 1, and injury updates are dropping like hot cakes.

Chargers’ QB1 Justin Herbert had a rough go this July with that pesky plantar fascia issue in his foot. He was rocking a walking boot for a minute, but he’s been stepping up his game lately and looks ready to rock on Sunday. Even with that ‘questionable’ tag hanging over him, it sure seems like Herbert’s going to be back under center, ready to sling it.

Over in Baltimore, Ravens’ star TE Mark Andrews  had a little scare with a car accident on Aug. 14. Thankfully, no injuries, but it kept him off-field for two weeks. Now, he’s back in action and fired up for the season opener.

Down in Kansas City, WR Hollywood Brown caught a bad break with a shoulder injury on Aug. 10. Coach Andy Reid’s hinting that Brown might not be on the marquee for the opener. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are playing it smart, snagging veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster to bolster the lineup.

As for the Niners, rookie Ricky Pearsall’s got it rough. He’s landed on the reserve/NFI list. The 23-year-old’s healing up from a gun—- wound to the chest, not to mention a shoulder injury that already threw off his camp.

With Week 1 just around the bend, teams are tweaking those final details. Gear up for a season that’s bound to be full of wild plays and surprise twists!