NFL Player News

McCaffrey (calf) is considered day-to-day, but coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that he expects McCaffrey to play in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Eagles, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

Fellow 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (groin) also is considered day-to-day. McCaffrey and Mitchell both played through their respective injuries in the divisional round against Dallas, with the former producing 57 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 16 touches while the latter rushed 14 times for 51 yards. The running backs may have their reps capped in practice throughout the week, but both should be available Sunday, barring any setbacks.

McCaffrey noted after Sunday's 19-12 win over the Cowboys in the divisional round that the right calf issue that resulted in him ceding snaps to backup Elijah Mitchell late in the contest is "all good" and won't affect his availability for this weekend's NFC Championship Game matchup with the Eagles, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports. "I was fighting but made it through, made it through great," McCaffrey said. "[The calf] is nothing bad."

McCaffrey ended Sunday's contest with 10 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown and six catches for 22 yards on eight targets while playing 67 percent of the snaps on offense, his second-lowest share in any of the 49ers' eight games dating back to Week 13. After finding the end zone from two yards out with 14:58 left in the fourth quarter, McCaffrey didn't draw a carry on either of the 49ers' final two possessions while Mitchell received 11 handoffs between the two drives, though McCaffrey did record two receptions. The fact that McCaffrey was available in some capacity down the stretch supports the notion that his calf injury isn't a major concern, but it wouldn't be surprising if he received some extra maintenance in the 49ers' practices this week.

Mitchell rushed 14 times for 51 yards in Sunday's 19-12 playoff win over the Cowboys.

Mitchell wasn't targeted in the passing game after cashing in a short receiving touchdown in the wild-card round win over Seattle. Starter Christian McCaffrey gained 57 yards on 16 touches, as neither back was able to find much running room against Dallas' athletic front. Mitchell should continue to split rushing duties with CMC, but the latter possesses the greater fantasy upside in next Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Eagles.

Elliott rushed 10 times for 26 yards and caught two of four targets for seven yards in Sunday's 19-12 playoff loss to San Francisco.

Elliott was unable to generate any running room against the 49ers' elite defensive front. The veteran back had to take over as the Cowboys' lone rushing option after Tony Pollard (leg) was carted off the field early in the second half, but he was unable to take advantage of the larger role. The seven-year pro appeared to lose a step in producing the worst per-carry average of his career (3.8 yards). Elliott still produced fantasy value as a short-yardage back with 12 touchdowns across 15 games, a role he will likely resume in 2023.

Perine had seven carries for 33 yards and another five catches for 31 yards in Sunday's AFC divisional-round win over the Bills.

The Bengals ran the ball well all day despite missing three starting offensive linemen. Joe Mixon took the lead and was great, but Perine was solid all day too.

McCaffrey rushed 10 times for 35 yards and a touchdown and caught six of eight targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 19-12 playoff win over the Cowboys.

McCaffrey was held in check for most of the contest, but a short touchdown run in the fourth quarter salvaged his fantasy day. The 26-year-old split touches with Elijah Mitchell (14-51-0), with the former commanding all of the backfield targets Sunday. McCaffrey still presents the higher upside due to his contributions as a receiver heading into next Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Eagles.

Pollard suffered a fractured left fibula and a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's 19-12 loss to the 49ers in the divisional round and will require offseason surgery on the former injury, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Pollard was carted to the locker room late in the first half of the contest and didn't return, ending the day with six carries for 22 yards and two catches for 11 yards. A timeline for his recovery won't be established until after surgery is completed, the procedure typically entails a 3-to-4-month rehab process. With that in mind, Pollard could be back to 100 percent at some point between the latter stages of OTAs in the spring and the start of NFL training camps in late July, but it's unclear if he'll be with Dallas or another club. The 2019 fourth-round pick was in the final year of his rookie contract in 2022 but is a candidate to receive the franchise tag from the Cowboys this offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Pollard (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against San Francisco, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Pollard sustained a left ankle injury late in the first half of Sunday's matchup, and coach Mike McCarthy said at halftime that the running back will be unavailable for the second half. Prior to his departure, Pollard rushed six times for 22 yards while securing two of three targets for 11 yards. His injury was described as a high-ankle sprain by the Fox broadcast, putting his availability for next weekend's NFC Championship Game against the Eagles in doubt if the Cowboys advance, but more work will be available for Ezekiel Elliott and Malik Davis to close out Sunday's game against San Francisco.

Pollard was carted to the locker room late in the first half of Sunday's divisional-round game against the 49ers due to an apparent left leg injury, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Pollard's left leg was rolled up on in the closing minutes of the second quarter Sunday, and he was helped off the field afterward. After spending some time in the medical tent, he was carted to the locker room with seconds remaining before halftime. If Pollard is unable to return for the second half, Ezekiel Elliott will be in line to operate as the Cowboys' clear lead running back, while Malik Davis could also see some work as a secondary option.

Reynolds rushed 23 times for 102 yards while catching nine of 10 targets for 116 yards over nine games in 2022.

Reynolds opened the year as the No. 3 running back behind D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, but he couldn't stay healthy and eventually fell behind Justin Jackson on the depth chart as well. While Reynolds is now set to hit free agency at the end of the league year, it's possible he could return to a more prominent role for the Lions in 2023 considering both Williams and Jackson are also on expiring contracts.