Jordan Mason expressed frustration when asked about the moment he found out Christian McCaffrey was out.

 

"I'm mad," Mason said, clearly irritated by the question. He felt the focus should be on his own performance and contribution to the team, rather than when he learned of McCaffrey's absence. Mason's intensity highlighted his desire to step up and make an impact, regardless of the circumstances surrounding his teammate's injury.

49ers running back Jordan Mason delivered a standout performance filling in for the injured Christian McCaffrey on Monday night, but his post-game demeanor told a different story.

After the game, Mason initially told ESPN's Lisa Salters that he had learned on Friday night that he'd be starting in place of McCaffrey. That comment raised eyebrows, as it suggested the 49ers might have violated the NFL's injury reporting rules by not disclosing McCaffrey's injury sooner. However, by the time Mason spoke at his post-game press conference, it was clear someone had clued him in on the potential consequences of his earlier statement.

When a reporter asked Mason when he found out he’d be starting, Mason seemed frustrated and cautious, offering a hesitant response that shifted blame onto the media for his earlier remarks.

“That question right there is why I’m mad,” Mason said. “That’s why I don’t like really talking to the media, because you say one thing wrong, and then, you know — I don’t know. Just skip that question.”

In reality, Mason’s original answer wasn’t the issue. The real problem was the 49ers informing Mason about McCaffrey's injury 72 hours before the game but only officially reporting it 90 minutes before kickoff, raising questions about their adherence to the league’s injury reporting policies.