Technically Christian McCaffrey He could return on Sunday against Tampa Bay.

The 49ers opened McCaffrey’s practice window on Monday and could add him to the 53-man roster this Saturday if he doesn’t suffer any hiccups in practice this week. McCaffrey missed the first nine weeks of the season with bilateral Achilles tendinitis, an injury that could lead to a full Achilles rupture if not managed carefully. That means the 49ers may want to slow down McCaffrey’s return.

But the 49ers are 4-4 and currently in third place in the NFC West. Their best chance of making the playoffs is to win the division, and they’ve already lost to the Cardinals and Rams, both of whom have easier schedules than the 49ers. If they lose to the Buccaneers this weekend, their playoff chances will drop significantly. So I’m guessing the 49ers would want McCaffrey to play if he has the talent.

However, Mccaffrey was unable to train for more than a week without re-injuring his Achilles. He practiced for a week in training camp, felt sore, and the 49ers shut him down for a month. He then practiced for a week leading up to the season opener against the Jets, felt sore once again, and the 49ers shut him down for the next two months. So he still has a ton to prove.

If McCaffrey can manage to play against the Buccaneers, the 49ers would be wise to use him wisely and not wear him down like they did last season.