49ers news: 57% of fans believe Christian McCaffrey should sit out until he’s 120% healthy

Kyle Shanahan took the podium Friday and ruled out Christian McCaffrey for Sunday’s matchup with the Vikings. The announcement isn’t a surprise given the circumstances and injury for McCaffrey. With a short week and travel across the country, it makes perfect sense to sit McCaffrey and let Jordan Mason continue to handle the running back duties.

49ers fans are in lockstep with Shanahan and his decision. Shanahan did say McCaffrey landing on the IR wasn’t a consideration, but retracted that and said the team is considering an IR move for the reigning Offensive Player of the Year. The team wound up placing McCaffrey on the IR Saturday morning.

Fifty-seven percent of 49ers fans want McCaffrey back when he is 120 percent healthy. Considering the rigors of the game and the recovery time, there may not be a time when McCaffrey is feeling perfect, but the message is clear from 49ers fans: don’t play McCaffrey until he’s as healthy as possible.

Shanahan also mentioned that after Monday night’s win, McCaffrey would have played if it had been a playoff game. Twenty-two percent of 49ers fans feel the same way. The definition of “meaningful game” is subjective, but most 49ers fans are likely speaking about the Super Bowl rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Only three percent of 49ers fans believed McCaffrey should suit up against the Vikings, and Shanahan just ended that thought. Still, only 18 percent of 49ers fans believe McCaffrey should be available for their matchup with their divisional rivals in LA.

The 49ers don’t need McCaffrey for Week 2 or three. The team still has all-pros everywhere on offense and can beat the Vikings and Rams without him. McCaffrey’s impact will be needed down the stretch and in the playoffs against the best competition.

Following the 49ers drubbing over the Jets without McCaffrey, 97 percent of 49ers fans are confident the team is headed in the right direction. The other three percent have to be fans of other teams.