Hearts broke for San Francisco 49ers fans and Christian McCaffery fantasy owners when the news broke that the dynamic dual-threat running back would be sitting out San Francisco’s season opener against the New York Jets on Monday, September 9, less than an hour before kickoff.
However, despite the loss of arguably the game's best running back, the 49ers were still able to capture a 32-19 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Jets, mainly due to Jordan Mason, San Francisco’s backup running back, who stepped up and delivered the game of his life when his name was called.
Jordan Mason reacting to his numbers: pic.twitter.com/iC6hyM0EzQ
— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2024
Jordan Mason, a third-year running back drafted out of Georgia Tech in 2022, had rarely seen the field in his NFL career before last night. In 2023, Mason recorded just 40 carries the entire season, accounting for 9% of the 49ers’ total snaps. In Mason's season opener as a starter in 2024, he recorded a career-high 28 carries or 147 yards and a rushing touchdown, his first touchdown since Week 14 of the 2023 NFL season.
The Jordan Mason touchdown managers were waiting for!
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) September 10, 2024
He has 93 yards and a TD so far! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lhubclHsVx
It felt like McCaffery had never left, and the Jets were once again scrambling to guard a dynamic running back in San Francisco's backfield. According to NFL research, Mason hadn't recorded more than 28 carries since high school. Even though Mason could not replace McCaffery's receiving production, it didn't matter because the Jets did not have an answer to Mason's running game.
While many wondered how long McCaffery would be sidelined with an injury, some of those worries lessened after last night, especially for 49ers fans, who witnessed the second coming of CMC firsthand in Jordan Mason.
The 49ers will take on the Vikings in Minnesota on Sunday, September 15, where it is unclear who will be the starting running back for San Francisco. However, what is known is that the Viking's defense will need to prepare for McCaffery and Mason if they can capture their second victory in the Sam Darnold era and knock off the reigning NFC champions.
