Is Christian McCaffrey playing today? Latest on 49ers RB for Week 2 NFL preseason vs. Saints

The San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints will square off on Sunday night in the Bay Area in Week 2 of the NFL preseason in 2024.

The Saints will be looking to win their second straight preseason game on Sunday after defeating the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. The 49ers missed thirty-three players in their preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans last week due to injuries.

One of the Niners' injured players, Christian McCaffrey, is still sidelined by a calf injury ahead of the team's opening game of the regular season. The running back isn't yet 100% healthy, and he is far too important to this 49ers offense to be risked in an unimportant game.

McCaffrey hurt his calf during practice on Aug. 4. That injury kept him out of the team's opening preseason game against the Titans, but even in a healthy state, it's almost certain he wouldn't have played that game.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, McCaffrey's teammate and fullback Kyle Juszczyk expressed hope that the former running back for the Carolina Panthers will soon recover fully.

"He's going to have cleats on that grass here in no time, and he's going to be Christian McCaffrey. He's going to go do his thing and be one of the best players in the world,” Juszczyk said.

McCaffrey is not expected to play during this year's preseason, but he should have fully recovered by the time the 49ers play their season opener on Sep. 9 against the New York Jets. Fans should expect to see McCaffrey among the starters for Week 1, barring any significant setbacks.

In an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio, McCaffrey stressed that he is still working hard and preparing to contribute significantly in the opening game of the season.

NFL Preseason Week 2: How to watch San Francisco 49ers vs New Orleans Saints?

The San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints will face off in a preseason game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

Fans should have a less difficult time seeing the game than they did with many other preseason games this year because it will be nationally televised on FOX. Mark Sanchez will provide color commentary for the game, while Adam Amin will call the plays. Kristina Pink will provide game commentary from the sidelines.

The 49ers and Saints were scheduled to practice together prior to the game, but the practices were canceled because of the number of injuries San Francisco suffered.

Fans who would rather watch the game on a streaming device can do so via the FOX Sports app. Additional streaming services that will carry the game include NFL+, Sling TV and FuboTV.

Below are all the details you need to watch the game:

Date and Time: Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024 at 08:00 p.m. ET

Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California

TV: FOX

Live stream: FOX Sports, DirecTV, FuboTV, SlingTV

Announcers: Adam Amin (Play-by-play), Mark Sanchez (color analyst), Kristina Pink (sideline commentator)