49ers mailbag: Friday could determine if McCaffrey debuts at Tampa Bay

SANTA CLARA – Rested. Recharged. Re-McCaffrey’d. As the 49ers (4-4) return from their bye and prepare for Sunday’s visit to Tampa Bay, let’s click open our social-media mailbag and answer your questions:

Will CMC play against the Bucs? (@emanuel_hinojosa18)

For Christian McCaffrey to make his long-awaited debut Sunday at Tampa, his Achilles and calf issues must respond well to this week’s practice return, so check back after Thursday’s most demanding workload. An official status will be assigned Friday afternoon, but the answer to your question may not come until Sunday at 8:30 a.m. PT when the inactive list is posted.

In the 49ers’ wins over the Bucs each of the past two seasons, McCaffrey combined for 197 rushing yards, 59 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. He has 10 touchdowns in nine career meetings with them tracing to his Carolina days. No wonder Brock Purdy had a “you-complete-me” look on his face Monday when describing McCaffrey’s return to practice.

Is Dre Greenlaw active? (@nick56official)

Phyiscally, yes, Dre Greenlaw is moving around well, nine months after tearing an Achilles in the Super Bowl. Roster-wise, no, he remains on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. The 49ers have yet to open his three-week evaluation window. That said, Greenlaw ran on the side Monday with a helmet on, and he’s getting closer to a return. Wouldn’t that be so “Big Play Dre” for him to make his comeback Nov. 17 vs. Seattle? That still may be too soon without practicing since February.

Is Nick really getting suspended for his hat? (@hairby.kelly)

The NFL did not fine Bosa amid its list of Week 9 disciplinary actions. Reportedly, potential punishment was to be deferred until after Tuesday’s election. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, a “five-figure fine” is what another NFL team warned players about incurring if they were to mix a political statement with the league’s game-day business. Don’t expect Bosa to go on an election-aftermath barnstorming tour; quarterbacks not politicians command his focus, and next up is Bosa’s old-time pal Baker Mayfield.

Can the 49ers establish themselves as one of the top NFC teams by the second half of the season? (@casiano9679)

Absolutely the 49ers can rally in their NFC title defense, and they must simply survive their next four-game gauntlet (at Tampa, vs. Seattle, at Green Bay, at Buffalo) to catch momentum for the closing five games. The 2023 runner-up Detroit Lions are the run-away favorite this season; they’ve outscored opponents by 110 points and scored 17 more touchdowns. Memo to the 49ers: Detroit’s lone loss came in Week 2 to … Tampa Bay.

Where would Jon Feliciano play since Dominick Puni is playing lights out? (@jmrpsg)

Feliciano, along with McCaffrey, had his three-week evaluation window open Monday to likely spring him off injured reserve. Indeed, Puni has seized the starting right guard spot since Feliciano exited with a knee injury early in training camp. If the 49ers want to intentionally disrupt the line’s cohesion, the Feliciano would have to start over center Jake Brendel or left guard Aaron Banks, but the more likely scenario is he becomes a top backup on the interior over Spencer Burford and Nick Zakelj.

Sorensen/Staley don’t seem to have the defense up to par. What gives? (@david581)

This is a new defensive unit, even if it still revolves around the presence of Bosa and Fred Warner. The rest of the defensive front is revamped, and young safeties are coping with growing pains in communication and in coverage. Nick Sorensen’s promotion to defensive coordinator and Brandon Staley’s addition to the staff haven’t backfired, so much as the 49ers are assembling a new defense on the fly this season.