The 49erse have been hurt by these players’ absences, and they’re are needed back soon.

McCaffrey is still healing from Achilles injuries that has kept him out of action to date. Last year’s Offensive Player of Year was also the league’s leading rusher.

The Niners have been able to utilize third-year running back Jordan Mason in McCaffrey’s stead. While no one may truly replace or make up for the productivity McCaffrey provides, Mason has done a more than adequate job.

However, the five-time Super Bowl champions are hoping for McCaffrey’s return here soon. Other members of the 49ers have been missed, too, though.

Here are a few to mention and why.

1. WR Jauan Jennings

Wide receiver Jauan Jennings, the four-year veteran, has been out due to a hip injury. He was a major contributor in the Super Bowl last year against the Kansas City Chiefs but nevertheless missed the Week 7 matchup against KC because of said injury.

This year, he was (and still is) on pace to have his best year ever. With 25 receptions, 404 yards and three touchdowns, Jennings is on pace to hit career highs,

Despite losing in Week 3 against the rival Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Brock Purdy connected with Jennings 11 times on 12 targets. Jennings recorded 175 yards receiving and racked up a trio of touchdowns in the game. In the next game against the New England Patriots, Jennings collected 88 yards on three receptions. Purdy has shown early on this season that he trusts this particular receiver.

Jennings’ presence is missed as the offense would certainly benefit from him playing again as soon as possible. The wideout would give another capable target downfield and help take some of the load off tight end George Kittle, especially in light of star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s season-ending knee injury.

Kittle has a team-high 34 catches which is nine more than Jennings. However, the injured wideout, Jennings, is the only player on the roster to collect more than 400 receiving yards.

2. WR Deebo Samuel

Another veteran wideout the 49ers are wanting to have back sooner than later is Deebo Samuel. He is ailing from a pneumonia illness, which required hospitalization, in addition to a wrist injury.

Deebo has already recorded two games with over 100 yards receiving, both on the road. His first touchdown of the 2024 season reminded NFL fans alike that he is still a dual-threat player for San Francisco’s offense.

His first receiving touchdown came in the victory against the Seattle Seahawks, another division rival. Deebo checked into the Week 7 game against the Chiefs but did not record a single reception, yard or score after playing just three snaps.

Currently, two of the 49ers’ active receivers are rookies. Jacob Cowing has played in all seven games this season but did not tally his first reception or yardage until Week 7 when he did so twice for a total of 50 yards. Cowing also fumbled the football during the loss in Week 2 at Minnesota against the Vikings.

San Francisco’s first-round pick of this year’s NFL Draft, Ricky Pearsall, made his debut against Kansas City, too. However, the situation of having to rely on the output from a pair of first-year players to replace both Samuel and Jauan Jennings is unfair.

Thus, Deebo being lined up in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys gives Brock Purdy and the offense the jolt it definitely needs while Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk are out.

3. DT Kevin Givens

Yes, the Niners have also been without their premier placekicker, Jake Moody, for the past couple of games. Fortunately, his two replacements, Matthew Wright and Anders Carlson, have not missed a field goal in his absence.

Another notable player struck with the injury bug is backup defensive tackle Kevin Givens. As the fifth-year talent has not missed a game yet this season, he was held out of practice on the Wednesday prior to Week 8’s game against Dallas with a groin injury.The undrafted defensive tackle played in all 17 games for the 49ers last year. Prior to this season, he had less than five sacks combined in four-plus seasons.

Givens has recorded 3.5 sacks already in the first seven games for San Francisco. He is tied for the team lead in this category along with defensive linemen Nick Bosa. Leonard Lloyd and Maliek Collins, who have also registered three sacks each.

The 49ers’ next opponent, the Cowboys, have a minus-6 turnover margin. This is tied for the third worst in the league.

The former Penn State Nittany Lion re-signed with the Niners last offseason on a one-year deal.

San Francisco clearly sees value in Givens, and he clearely assists with depth and rotations.

With Givens, the 49ers have the ability to further contain quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ run game. But without Givens on the field, it’ll potentially put extra pressure on San Francisco’s defense that is the 12th worst against the run.