Friday PM update: Christian McCaffrey will not come off I.R. this week and it appears he may not be able to play until Week 8, per ESPN’s David Newton. Week 8 would still be in McCaffrey’s 4-6 week timetable for return. Mike Davis will continue to lead the way and be a fantasy asset.
Friday AM update: McCaffrey has not returned to practice this week, which would indicate he will not be activated off IR by this weekend.
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The original timetable for his return was estimated to be 4-6 weeks. We are now rolling into Week 6, as the Panthers host the Chicago Bears. Playing this week would be on the early end of his timeline and beat writer Steve Reed believes there is “no way” McCaffrey returns this week.
McCaffrey is eligible to come off I.R. this week, but he will undergo a series of tests on Monday to determine where he is in his recovery before that might happen, per Reed. Coach Matt Rhule wouldn’t speculate on when he believes McCaffrey would return. The good news is that the Panthers are playing well and backup running back Mike Davis has put up good numbers in relief of McCaffrey. His play should give the team the luxury of getting McCaffrey’s ankle 100 percent before bring him back to game action.