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The Carolina Panthers activated running back Christian McCaffrey from injured reserve on Saturday morning, clearing the way for his return in Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

McCaffrey has been out since suffering a Week 2 ankle injury.



Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Friday that McCaffrey was “trending in the right direction” in terms of being available for Sunday’s game in Kansas City.

“If we played right now, I feel he’d be able to play,” Rhule told reporters.

McCaffrey, who signed a four-year, $64 million extension in the offseason, rushed for 156 yards and four touchdowns and caught seven passes for 67 yards in Carolina’s first two games.

Last season, McCaffrey became the third player in NFL history to accumulate 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. He had 1,387 rushing yards and 1,005 receiving yards to join Roger Craig (1985) and Marshall Faulk (1999) as members of the club.

A first-round pick (eighth overall) in 2017, McCaffrey has gained 5,666 yards from scrimmage and scored 43 TDs in 50 career games.

Journeyman Mike Davis has been filling in for McCaffrey and has rushed for 350 yards and two touchdowns and caught 38 passes for 244 yards and two scores this season.

The Panthers also activated defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and waived defensive tackle Woodrow Hamilton on Saturday.

–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)