49ers put Christian McCaffrey on 53-man roster, elevate Tashaun Gipson from practice squad

Nothing crazy happened on the plane ride to Tampa.

That much was evident Saturday when the 49ers, as expected, took running back Christian McCaffrey off injured reserve and placed him on the 53-man roster.

McCaffrey will play Sunday for the first time this season when the 49ers (4-4) visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4).

The 49ers also made one practice squad elevation, putting safety Tashaun Gipson on the roster with rookie free safety Malik Mustapha dealing with a calf strain and listed as questionable.

McCaffrey had been trending toward playing all week after having his practice window opened Monday. He practiced Wednesday, Thursday and Friday without any setbacks. Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey would be “good to go” unless “something crazy happened on the plane ride.”

Speaking to the media Friday for the first time since Sept. 12, McCaffrey proclaimed himself ready to play.

“I feel good now,” McCaffrey said Friday in a brief interview. “I wouldn’t be out here if it was still bothering me. I feel great.”

Gipson, who started 33 regular-season games for the 49ers in 2022-23 at free safety, originally signed with Jacksonville but missed six games under suspension for violating the league policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

In his 12th season, Gipson has 33 career interceptions, including five for the 49ers in 2022 and one last season.

Although Gipson didn’t play in a game for Jacksonville, Shanahan liked what he saw from the 33-year-old veteran.

“He is in the mix. Especially with Mustapha being questionable,” Shanahan said. “He got a week in practice at Jacksonville, he’s done awesome this week in his three days. He looks good enough to do it, it just depends on the health of everyone else.”

The 49ers also downgraded guard/center Jon Feliciano from “questionable” to “out.” Feliciano had his practice window opened Monday along with McCaffrey after spending the first eight games on injured reserve.