Technically, Christian McCaffrey he could return as early as Sunday against Tampa Bay.

The 49ers opened McCaffrey’s practice window on Monday and could activate him to the 53-man roster this Saturday, assuming he doesn’t have any setbacks in practice this week. McCaffrey has missed the first nine weeks of the season with bilateral Achilles tendinitis and an injury that could lead to a full-blown Achilles tear if not treated carefully. That is, the 49ers might want to delay McCaffrey’s return.

But the 49ers are 4-4 and currently sit in third place in the NFC West. Their best chance to make the playoffs is to win the division and they’ve already lost to the Cardinals and Rams, who have easier schedules than the 49ers the rest of the way. If they were to lose to the Buccaneers this weekend, their playoff chances would be significantly reduced. So I guess the 49ers would like McCaffrey to play if he’s able.

But Mccaffrey hasn’t been able to practice for more than a week straight without re-injuring his Achilles tendon. He practiced for a week during training camp, felt sore, and the 49ers shut him down for a month. He then practiced for a week before the season opener against the Jets, felt sore once again, and was shut down by the 49ers for the next two months. So he still has a lot to prove.

If McCaffrey manages to play against the Buccaneers, the 49ers would do well to use him judiciously and not wear him down like they did last season.