It was Jordan Mason, of all people, who carried the San Francisco 49ers to victory over the New York Jets in Week 1. However, once he spoke in an interview, he made everyone focus on something else.
The San Francisco 49ers took down the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, with backup running back Jordan Mason drawing his first career start after it was announced that Christian McCaffrey was too injured to play.
After his incredible performance, ESPN asked Mason when he found out he would be starting in place of the inactive McCaffrey.
Things changed drastically when he said, “Friday, Friday night, something like that.”
McCaffrey’s inactivity on Monday night was a surprise, as he was officially listed as questionable on San Francisco’s final injury report.
However, just about everyone had him playing until it was announced at the last minute.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was not in agreement with what Jordan Mason stated.
During his interview, he tried to throw water on the fire by telling reporters that he never told Mason he would start. Shanahan said he told his backup running back he “had to be ready a bunch” and that he knew he would have to play “a lot.”
#49ers HC Kyle Shanahan says he didn’t tell Jordan Mason on Friday that Mason would be starting tonight https://t.co/E6EkXB8rh6 pic.twitter.com/S0dXr7iT8N
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) September 10, 2024
Despite the confusion, Jordan Mason, the undrafted third-year player out of Georgia Tech, had a career game in the 49ers’ win over the Jets, rushing for 147 yards and one touchdown in the interim starting role.
Jordan Mason Gets Upset After Being Asked About Starting A Second Time
The 49ers caught the NFL world by surprise when star running back Christian McCaffrey was ruled out with an injury some 90 minutes before their “Monday Night Football” game against the Jets.
His absence surprised everyone, but backup running back Jordan Mason was ready to step up.
After the game, Mason told ESPN’s Lisa Salters that he knew he’d be starting the game as early as Friday.
That could get the 49ers in big trouble since they only announced that Christian McCaffrey wouldn’t play 90 minutes before kickoff.
In his press conference after his initial interview, Mason admitted to reporters that he was “mad” about the line of questioning.
Jordan Mason was upset during the postgame press conference
After the game he told reporters that he was told he was going to start on Friday.
Kyle Shanahan was asked about this and said that this wasn’t true.
This was Mason after all of that: https://t.co/UA4yAuMzQp pic.twitter.com/zsApKlYOIv
— Kevin Krueger (@kevinkruegs) September 10, 2024
