49ers' Christian McCaffrey poised for season debut vs. Bucs - ESPN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After observing Christian McCaffrey participating in the San Francisco 49ers' most strenuous practice of the week, coach Kyle Shanahan said he has seen enough to believe that the star running back will make his season debut Sunday.

Speaking to KNBR radio in San Francisco on Thursday, Shanahan said McCaffrey has done well enough in practice this week to return against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

«He's been awesome these last two days,» Shanahan said. «You never know [about] a setback or anything, but these two days have been great, and I expect to see him out there.»

McCaffrey has been on injured reserve since Sept. 14 because of bilateral Achilles tendinitis that followed a calf injury that began to bother him in early August. McCaffrey traveled to Germany to meet with a specialist while the 49ers were in Los Angeles to play the Rams on Sept. 22.

Before last week's bye, Shanahan said McCaffrey would stick around the team facility and do simulated practice activities that would lead to his return to practice. There were no setbacks from that, which led to the practice window opening Monday.

McCaffrey took part in the team's «bonus» practice that day and has since participated on a limited basis in sessions Wednesday and Thursday. But the Thursday practice was always thought to be the most important; it's the one padded session of the week and the longest.

Now, all that stands between McCaffrey and his season debut Sunday is a lighter Friday practice that is a little more than a walk-through and then a cross-country flight to Tampa, Florida, on Friday evening. Barring any issues there, the Niners would then activate McCaffrey from injured reserve Saturday.

To make room for him on the roster, they will