49ers-Jets injury report: McCaffrey doubtful, Hufanga doubtful

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers aren’t ready to give Christian McCaffrey the green light to play in Monday’s season opener after he was limited in practice by calf and Achilles issues.

McCaffrey is listed as questionable on the injury report while the only 49ers ruled out are defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and linebacker Dee Winters.

Left guard Aaron Banks (pinky finger) is also doubtful, while safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) is doubtful to return after torn his ACL last November, though he has made an impressive entrance into practice the past two weeks.

Coach Kyle Shanahan declined to say whether McCaffrey will be an in-game decision. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Monday at Levi’s Stadium against the New York Jets.

McCaffrey tore his calf in the 49ers’ penultimate game last season, to which Shanahan said, “I don’t know if they’re related, but they’re similar.”

As for Hufanga, Shanahan said: “I don’t think it’s too early (to play). He looks healthy. We’re trying to be careful and smart with him. We haven’t ruled him out in case there’s an emergency situation.”

Receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle) and running back Isaac Guerendo (groin) are no longer on the injury report.

Injuries from the preseason finale will delay the starts of Gross-Matos (knee) and Winters (ankle). Gross-Matos established himself as the No. 3 defensive end after signing from the Carolina Panthers, and the 49ers will look to make second-year defensive end Robert Beal Jr. their primary backup behind Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd.

Winters, a sixth-round pick last year, has shined throughout the offseason and camp, but it appears De’Vondre Campbell will start alongside Fred Warner at linebacker in the base defense.

SUPER BOWL HANGOVER?

Only two teams have ever lost a Super Bowl one season and won it the next season. The Dallas Cowboys lost Super Bowl V 16-13 to the Baltimore Colts on January 17, 1971, then came back to beat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI a year later 24-3.

The New England Patriots lost Super Bowl LII 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles to conclude the 2017 season, then beat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 the following year.

That’s the complete list, but it doesn’t mean much to tight end George Kittle.

“I guess that statistic exists because when you play a long time in the season, if you’re a team that doesn’t handle it well, you’re likely to be beat up, sore and discouraged,” Kittle said. “I haven’t felt that at all. I think our team has a lot of energy and is ready to go.”

“There are a lot of things I don’t think about until you ask me about them and I try not to think about them. I probably never will again.”

DEFENSIVE LINE IMPROVEMENTS

Bosa noted that he and Kevin Givens are the only holdovers from the defensive line since the 2019 season.

“I really like the new guys and I think we’ve gotten better,” Bosa said. “Leonard brings something to our defense that we didn’t have — a guy who can make plays all over the field and has a motor that doesn’t get tired. To have a guy like that who’s super long and athletic and can rush and this game is going to bring out the best in him. I’m excited, I really am.”

Although the defensive line said goodbye to Javon Kinlaw (Jets) and Arik Armstead (Jaguars), the additions of Maliek Collins and Jordan Elliott have reshaped the interior.

Another reason for Bosa’s optimism is the months of work this defensive linemen have put in. Last season, the 49ers scrambled to add reinforcements, trading Chase Young and Randy Gregory in October. “In this scheme, the details are very important and if you don’t step up in July and August, you’re going to be behind and it shows in your pace and your speed,” Bosa said. “All those details really matter. Kris went out and got guys he saw step up and play really well. We’re going to be more consistent as a unit.”

THE CRAZY UNCLE

After joining the team on a contract extension worth up to $82.7 million, left tackle Trent Williams spoke of line coach Chris Foerster as family, calling him “like an uncle.”

Foerster was a line coach in Washington when Williams was a rookie in 2010. They were together for four years, had a relationship and were reunited in 2020 when he was traded to the 49ers.

“Well, if he’s an uncle, he’s the crazy uncle, for sure,” Foerster said. “I’ve watched him grow up over the years and we’ve been through a lot together. My son, Micah, worked with us as a ball boy at a camp in Washington. Trent took him in like his own brother. And I think Micah was 10 at the time… And from that point on, he just kind of became part of our family.”

NO REDDICK MEETING

Jets coach Robert Saleh said it was “fair” to cut defensive end Haason Reddick, who has yet to join the team. Reddick, whose sack in the NFC championship game injured Brock Purdy’s elbow two seasons ago, is entering the final year of his $14.1 million contract after being traded by the Eagles in the spring for a third-round pick. “Everybody goes through their own process, and I’m going to be adamant that when he gets here, we’re going to welcome him, we’re going to love him and he’s going to be a part of this football team,” Saleh told Jets reporters.