The 49ers' season was flipped upside down when star running back Christian McCaffrey was surprisingly ruled out for their Week 1 primetime matchup with the Jets.
McCaffrey missed all of training camp and preseason with a calf injury, but he was not expected to miss any regular season action. Then his calf injury evolved into an Achilles issue, and San Francisco had no choice but to put the dynamic dual-threat on injured reserve.
Replacing the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year was never going to be easy, but backup running back Jordan Mason instantly made it clear that he'd do his best.
Mason exploded for a career-high 147 rushing yards and one touchdown to power the 49ers to a victory on "Monday Night Football" in his debut as a starter. He hasn't let up since, tallying the second-most rushing yards in the NFL through five weeks.
Just how good has Mason been? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.
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Jordan Mason stats: How 49ers backup has filled in for injured Christian McCaffrey
There is no replacing McCaffrey's impact as a physical ball-carrier and dangerous pass-catcher, but Mason is doing as much as he can on the former.
Through five games, Mason leads the NFL with 105 carries. His 536 rushing yards rank second in the league, only trailing Ravens running back Derrick Henry (572).
San Francisco's elite offensive line deserves credit, but Mason has looked like he's running for his job with every touch. He's averaging 107.2 yards per game and has already matched his career high with three rushing touchdowns.
The 49ers might be off to a disappointing 2-3 start, but Mason's efforts as a rusher are not indicative of the team's record.
In fact, he's off to just as strong of a start as McCaffrey had through five games last year, where he eventually went on to win AP Offensive Player of the Year.
| Jordan Mason (2024) | Christian McCaffrey (2023 | |
| 5 | GP | 5 |
| 105 | Carries | 99 |
| 536 | Rush Yds | 510 |
| 3 | Rush TDs | 7 |
| 107.2 | Rush Yds/G | 102 |
| 7 | Rec | 20 |
| 66 | Rec Yds | 168 |
| 0 | Rec TDs | 1 |
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Mason has more carries and rushing yards through five games than McCaffrey did last season, although he hasn't had CMC's nose for the end zone.
Mason isn't much of a receiving back, either, giving McCaffrey a clear advantage in receptions, receiving yards and all-purpose yards through the five-game comparison benchmark.
But to even be in the same conversation as McCaffrey's level of production as a backup speaks volumes to the job that Mason is doing in his stead. The starting job will remain Mason's until McCaffrey works his way back from Achilles tendinitis.
“McCaffrey's return depends on how he fares in practice, but for now, there is some mild encouragement because the three-time Pro Bowler's calf and Achilles issues did not flare up after on-field work this week — his first on-field work since being placed on IR," ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on the latest McCaffrey injury update.
“If his progress continues without any setbacks, McCaffrey could return Oct. 20 for a Super Bowl rematch against the Chiefs."
Week 7 certainly seems optimistic for a player trying to return from dual Achilles injuries, but the 49ers will welcome McCaffrey back with open arms when he's ready. Expect Mason to continue to hold down San Francisco's backfield until then.
