The inspiring story of undrafted San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason stepping up in place of injured star Christian McCaffrey and leading his team to a 32-19 victory over the New York Jets might not be as straightforward as it seemed.
In a post-game interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, Mason revealed he was aware of his starting role “maybe Friday, Friday night.” This contradicted the timing understood by fans and the Jets, who only learned McCaffrey was inactive for the game a little over an hour before kickoff due to a calf injury.
Following the game, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan clarified that McCaffrey was still considered a potential player during warmups. Shanahan explained, “It was just the same stuff that was bothering him all week. There was a little too much today, so it was a game-time decision. After talking to him, we decided it was smarter to keep him out, and I’m glad we did.”
When Mason was asked again about when he learned he would be starting, his response seemed to shift. “That question right there… That’s why I don’t really like talking to the media because you say one thing wrong and then… I don’t know. Just skip that question,” he said.
NFL rules allow teams considerable flexibility in managing player injury statuses. However, with the league’s close ties to gambling and fantasy sports industries, accurate and timely injury information is crucial for transparency. McCaffrey was listed as questionable up until his official declaration as inactive