McCaffrey calls facing dad’s Broncos “surreal”
Christian McCaffrey called Sunday’s upcoming BroncosPanthers matchup at Bank of America Stadium “surreal” as the former Valor Christian star prepares to play his dad’s old team for the first time.
McCaffrey, who’s been limited to three games this year due to ankle and shoulder injuries, is expected back in the Panthers lineup for the first time since Week 9. The Colorado native and second- oldest son of longtime Denver wideout Ed McCaffrey fondly recalled his childhood memories of the Broncos even as he maintained “it’s just another week for me.”
“That was when I started to see what football meant to me, just watching ( my dad) and being able to run around on the field after the game,” McCaffrey said. “Seeing them win two Super Bowls, even when I was two or three years old, I just knew how much my dad loved football… To be playing against my dad’s former team, it makes things come full circle.”
After leading Valor Christian to four straight state titles ( Class 5A in 2012 and ’ 13, and 4A crowns in ’ 10 and ’ 11) as one of the state’s greatest prep football players ever, McCaffrey went on to star at Stanford, where he was once a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Drafted No. 8 overall by Carolina in 2017, McCaffrey’s impact escalated through his first three seasons into a record- breaking 2019, when he became the third player in NFL history to record 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in one season. The 24- year- old was rewarded with a four- year extension in the offseason worth $ 64 million, keeping him in Carolina through 2025 and making him the league’s highest- paid running back.
With his shoulder now “feeling great,” McCaffrey detailed his speed- bumps this season. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 against Tampa Bay, and in his first game back from that injury, hurt his shoulder against the Chiefs in Week 9. McCaffrey has 225 rushing yards and five touchdowns in his three games played.
“It’s really frustrating,” he said. “You work so hard for so long to come back ( from the ankle injury), and then something separate happens ( with the shoulder).”
McCaffrey hasn’t yet spoken to his dad about the upcoming matchup against Ed’s longtime team. Ed played 13 NFL seasons and nine in Denver, where he won two super Bowls and caught 462 passes for 6,200 yards and 46 touchdowns.
Injury updates. The Broncos’ cornerback depth took another hit Sunday when rookie Essang Bassey sustained a season- ending left knee injury.
“The full extent of his injury is still being evaluated but they’ve seen enough at this point to know he won’t play the final four games,” Fangio said.
Fangio said there is a “good chance,” that Bassey’s ACL was torn. He had been the Broncos’ nickel back the last five games and was injured while covering Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins in the end zone.
Right guard Graham Glasgow ( toe/ foot) was unable to finish the Chiefs game and Fangio said “the next couple days will give us a better idea,” of his availability for this week’s game at Carolina.
Safety Will Parks is expected to practice Wednesday after finishing his COVID- 19 protocols. Fangio was unsure if third- team QB Jeff Driskel and returner/ receiver Diontae Spencer would be activated from the COVID- 19/ reserve list to work Wednesday.