SANTA CLARA – Christian McCaffrey scored four touchdowns the last time the Arizona Cardinals came into Levi’s Stadium, and he almost had a fifth score until Brock Purdy vultured in with a 1-yard sneak to cap last October’s 35-16 rout.
So, Jordan Mason, are you up for mimicking that role Sunday when the 49ers (2-2) host the Cardinals (1-3)?
With McCaffrey still sidelined indefinitely by Achilles tendinitis, Mason is thriving through his first four career starts as a plug-and-play-like-last-year’s-offensive-hero. The more Mason carries – more than any NFL running back this season – the more appreciative his teammates are becoming.
Who better to lead your cheers than the offensive linemen blocking your path? They’re loving Mason’s renowned physicality — “We already knew that, though,” center Jake Brendel said — but also his greater breadth in a versatile offense. Mason is executing a lot more than those inside-run, clock-killing runs in relief of McCaffrey the prior two seasons.
“He’s having the time of his life, which is awesome to see,” Brendel said Wednesday at his locker, which neighbors Mason’s. “You love seeing it, because his success is also our success.”
No one knows how much longer Mason must serve as RB1 until McCaffrey debuts this season. Teammates know Mason, 24, is producing with, as Brandon Aiyuk said, “just more opportunities,” and with no turnovers.
Now consider these testimonials from his linemen:
Right guard Dom Puni: “Usually you don’t hear much talk (from defenders). But I know they feel it. He hit me in the back and knocked the wind out of me on the second play of (last Sunday’s) game. I had to miss a play. So I felt it. As soon as I started blocking a linebacker, Jordan hit me in the back and I just lost all the air in my stomach.”
Left guard Aaron Banks: “He’s downhill, he’s physical. As an O-lineman you have to love that, if your running back is going to run through an arm tackle, who’s fine with getting in there and putting his face in a (expletive) mosh pit of dudes, getting some yards, dragging dudes and not going down easy. We love that from Mason.”
Right tackle Colton McKivitz: “I love his physicality. When he sees the hole and hits it so hard, it gives us incredible confidence. Now he gets to show what he can do in the outside zone instead of just between the gaps. We’re getting him on the edge a lot more now. Usually it was in between the tackles in that closer role.”
Brendel: “We kind of knew that he was special. He was an every-down back. It’s just we had the greatest of the greats in front of him, so it’s hard to tell that guy (McCaffrey) to get off the field.”
Left tackle Trent Williams: “It’s always good when Brock is just unleashing the ball, and then we’ve got Mase running the ball how he’s running the ball. That makes the offense go.”
Even since Mason debuted in the season-opening win with 147 yards – third-most in a 49ers’ starting debut – he’s insisted his style hasn’t changed. His opportunities have. That goes for the variation of plays they run, and if you watch his third step, you’ll see how he spies the right lane to burst through on 91 carries toward 447 yards, second only to Baltimore’s Derrick Henry (480 yards, 80 carries).
“I don’t think he’s changed at all,” Brendel added. “He’s expanded his knowledge of the offense, aware of where the holes are going to open up and the timing of the play.”
Mason takes all such public compliments in, well, the stride of a proven professional.
“We talk, but don’t really talk like that. We expect that from each other, to go out there and be our best,” Mason said. “I’ve got to be better, man. I’ve got to be better, for sure.”
No one is saying the 49ers’ next man up is better than McCaffrey. But Mason is performing so well that no one really wants to test who the next man is behind him, whether it be Deebo Samuel moonlighting from his receiver spot, Isaac Guerendo enduring a rookie baptism, or Patrick Taylor Jr. awaiting his first carries.
Mason has three rushing touchdowns this season; McCaffrey had three in last season’s win over the Cardinals, along with a touchdown catch.
“There’s certain things that Christian does better than anyone on the planet, a lot of things,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “But our guys are capable of doing things at a high level, also. And there’s some things you miss with Christian.
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“But Jordan had a nice touchdown that got called back out of the backfield catching the ball (last game). But we just do what we always do. It just always makes it a little tougher when you don’t have a player like that out there. But there’s still a lot of good players out there.”
Such is life for the 2024 McCaffrey-less, Mason-loving 49ers.
