Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that running back Christian McCaffrey is expected to be activated off injured reserve on Saturday, making him available for his 2024 season debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

“We’ll take him off IR tomorrow, and then he’ll be good to go unless something crazy happens on that plane ride,” Shanahan said. “He should be ready to go tomorrow once he gets off IR.”

After Friday’s practice, McCaffrey spoke to reporters but declined to provide further details about his recovery or his trip to Germany. When asked about his rehabilitation from Achilles tendinitis, he chose not to discuss the details.

“I keep it all private,” McCaffrey said. “When you’re on IR and you’re injured, you’ll do anything to come back. I feel good now. That’s all that matters.”

McCaffrey emphasized that his recovery required much more than rest and time off, crediting the 49ers’ training and medical staff for their dedication.

“It’s very hard to be injured,” McCaffrey said. “It’s hard physically, mentally and emotionally, especially when it’s just not as planned. It wasn’t planned. Some things went wrong, but I feel good now, ready to go.”

Acknowledging that football takes up about 90 percent of his life, McCaffrey admitted how difficult it was to sit still and expressed his eagerness to get back on the field. The decision to place him on injured reserve was particularly difficult for the running back.

“I can say this: from (GM) John (Lynch) to Kyle to (owner) Jed (York) to the entire coaching staff, the way they handled everything and the way they went about it was amazing,” McCaffrey said. . “Sometimes you need people by your side who can care for you, and maybe they know what’s best for you in times when maybe you’re trying to let go or throw away something that could be risky.

“So the way they handled it, and the coaching staff and the weight training staff, it was really lucky for them.”

McCaffrey also noted that recent injuries have forced him to adjust his pregame routine, making his training process smoother than previous seasons.

“I realize it every day,” McCaffrey said. “But all I know is I have a good routine right now, and I feel good, and that’s all that matters. … I feel good now. I wouldn’t be here if It still bothered me. I feel good.”

Renardo Green in the spotlight

Rookie cornerback Fox Green is set to make his first NFL start. The team is a little shorthanded at the cornerback position with Charvarius district in Texas for the funeral of his daughter, who tragically died last week. The 49ers are giving Ward as much time as he needs to grieve the loss.

The team has confidence in Green, who has impressed with his limited snaps. The freshman owns a solid 79.6 defensive rating from Pro Football Focus, ranking second among rookie cornerbacks and third among rookie defensive backs.

Green’s standout performance came in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, where he earned a 91.4 coverage grade, the best coverage grade by a 49ers defender since Week 4, when the linebacker Fred Warner recorded a score of 94.0. This is also the best coverage grade by a 49ers defensive back this season.

The 49ers are eager to see how Green performs with a heavier workload, and he should get that opportunity Sunday against the Buccaneers.

Nick Bosa questionable

Defensive end Nick Bosa participated limitedly in practice this week due to a hip injury. Shanahan was asked if he was concerned about Bosa’s availability for Sunday’s game.

“I am, to a certain extent,” Shanahan replied. “He wasn’t able to do much. He was definitely extremely limited. I hope he’s OK, but we’ll see on Sunday.”

Shanahan revealed that Bosa was likely injured early in Wednesday’s practice after a collision with a teammate.

“I just bumped into someone, I got a little pointer on my hip,” Shanahan said. “It bothered him.”

Bosa is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Jake Moody’s quick recovery comes as a surprise

Shanahan admitted he initially expected a kicker Jake Moody being placed on injured reserve and missing significant time after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 5. Moody is expected to play against the Buccaneers.

“I have a lot of experience with high ankle sprains, and it’s one of the most aggravating and annoying injuries a player can suffer,” Shanahan explained. “I had no experience with the kicker, especially on his kicking foot, so I just assumed it would be an IR and all that, especially on his kicking foot. But I was a little surprised. He said it would be worse on his vegetal foot. I just don’t really understand how to kick.

Shanahan was surprised by Moody’s quick recovery and noted that the kicker looked strong in practice this week.

“So I was surprised that he came back now,” Shanahan added. “But he looked great this week, and it was great to have him back, and it should be good to be here on Sunday.”