Why did Christian McCaffrey go to Germany? Expert breaks down 49ers star's injury-related trip

Christian McCaffrey was placed on the injured reserve list a few days after the San Francisco 49ers played their season-opening game against the New York Jets. The move indicated that the All-Pro running back's leg injury was more serious than first thought.

According to reports, McCaffery has now taken a plane to Germany to consult with an Achilles specialist. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Monday that he is traveling to see an expert "to see what is wrong with his Achilles tendinitis.”

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has also confirmed that McCaffrey traveled with the intention of finding a solution to the problem. The injury has troubled the running back since the beginning of practice camp and has kept him out of the first three games of the season.

"I know he's going to see a specialist that I believe can help him with his Achilles process," Shanahan said on Monday. "I think he's doing that over these next few days, and hopefully, it'll help.”

Initially, McCaffrey suffered a calf injury early in August, which kept him out of training camp and the preseason. However, he did make a brief, limited comeback to practice prior to the Week 1 matchup with the Jets on Sept. 9.

The 28-year-old running back was deemed questionable to play in that Week 1 game, but in an unexpected development, he was eventually ruled out. He also had a new Achilles injury designation on the injury report before he was placed on the injured reserve list.

Following the best season of his career, Christian McCaffrey was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year last season. He tied for the league No. 1 in touchdowns (21) and led the NFL in scrimmage yards (2,023) in 2023.

The Niners have a disappointing 1-2 start to the season after losing consecutive games to the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams in Weeks 2 and 3, suggesting that they are already feeling the impact of the void left by McCaffery's absence.

How long will Christian McCaffrey be injured?

Christian McCaffrey was placed on injured reserve by the San Francisco 49ers after Week 1 and has missed two games since then. He is also guaranteed to miss the games scheduled for Weeks 4 and 5.

Although McCaffery will be eligible to make a comeback in the Week 6 game against the Seattle Seahawks, the Niners' decision to send him to Germany for additional testing does not ensure that he will be fit enough to participate in that game.

The team is expected to give fans and fantasy managers more information regarding Christian McCaffrey's status following the Niners' game against the New England Patriots in Week 4. By then, the former Carolina Panthers RB should have returned from his trip to Germany.