What happened: Christian McCaffrey returned to action on Sunday afternoon after carrying a questionable designation during the first half. His re-entry came as Atlanta seized the lead with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter on a touchdown connection from Michael Penix Jr. to Kyle Pitts.

Why it matters: Getting the same McCaffrey who punched in a score earlier this month back on the field keeps San Francisco's primary offensive weapon available alongside newly activated wideout Christian Kirk. Atlanta is working to snap a two-game losing streak after activating cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. from injured reserve and signing defensive end Drake Jackson ahead of kickoff.

What to watch: San Francisco will attempt to rally from the five-point third-quarter deficit over the remainder of the second half while managing McCaffrey's snaps.