A look at the Jets’ game against the 49ers in the first week of NFL play on Monday at Levi’s Stadium:

Marquee Duel

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey against the Jets defense

The Jets can see the man considered the best running back in football right away.

McCaffrey is an all-around player who can cause problems for the defense. The 49ers have talent all over the offense, but McCaffrey is the first.

He ran for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns last season and had 564 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.

“The versatility,” Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said when asked what makes McCaffrey so special, “he can not only do a little bit of everything, he can do a little bit of everything at the highest level, whether it’s route running, and that’s not just route running out of the backfield, it’s route running from the wide receiver positions, whether it’s in the slot, number one, he’s everywhere, so just from a receiver perspective, he’s a dangerous threat in the passing game and in the running game, he’s got elite instincts, you know?”

McCaffrey is dealing with a calf injury that caused him to miss a large portion of training camp, but he is expected to play. The question is whether he is at 100 percent and whether the 49ers will limit his workload.

The Jets defense enters this season with high expectations after finishing in the top five in the NFL each of the last two years.

The Jets have Pro Bowl players at every level: Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson on offense, CJ Mosley and Quincy Williams at linebacker and Sauce Gardner in the secondary. Stopping McCaffrey will be a strong first challenge for this group.

Rodgers return

Aaron Rodgers acknowledged there will likely be a moment before Monday’s game when he thinks about his return from the torn left Achilles tendon that ended his season last year after four appearances.

“Maybe there’ll be a little smirk after the fourth (play),” Rodgers said. “I don’t know. We’ll see. I’m sure they’ll notice, but I’m in good shape, really had a memorable year in a lot of ways. Some really difficult things, but also some great things, so there’s always a moment of reflection during the national anthem to collect your thoughts and send gratitude to the universe for the opportunity to be on the field in protective gear, so I’ll really look forward to that.”

The Jets are equally excited to see Rodgers back on the field. The hopes of this team, and the job security of coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, depend on Rodgers’ ability to play at the level everyone in Green Bay is used to. This will be Rodgers’ first full game since January 2023, so he may be rusty. Rodgers has looked great in training camp. Now comes the serious stuff.

No rush

The biggest negative story still hanging over the Jets is the ongoing absence of edge rusher Haason Reddick. The Jets acquired Reddick from the Eagles in a trade completed on April 1.

He showed up for a physical and a press conference that day, and the Jets haven’t seen him since. Reddick wants a contract extension. The Jets won’t give him one. We’re at a stalemate.

Reddick could gain or lose influence on Monday night, as the Jets are counting on Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald and Micheal Clemons to put pressure on 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

If they can do that, the Jets can argue that Reddick isn’t urgently needed. If they can’t get Purdy, Reddick suddenly has an advantage.

Old friends

These two coaching teams know each other well. Robert Saleh and Kyle Shanahan have known each other since their early days as young coaches with the Texans. When Shanahan was hired as the 49ers’ head coach in 2017, he chose Saleh as his defensive coordinator, a position he held until 2021, when the Jets hired him as head coach.

Now the two face each other and it will be an exciting duel between the 49ers offense and the Jets defense.

This is the first time since the 1970 merger that a team that allowed the most offensive yards per game in the NFL (the 49ers with 6.6) will face a team that allowed the fewest yards per game in the previous season (the Jets with 4.6) in Week 1.

Hall pass

If there’s a breakout player to watch for on the Jets offense in this game, it’s running back Breece Hall. The third-year running back has been explosive in training camp. He underwent ACL surgery two years ago and should play a major role in the Jets’ offensive strategy as both a runner and a receiver.

“Breece, the best compliment I can give him, other than pronouncing his name correctly, is he’s a three-down back,” Rodgers said. “He can do it all, on first and second down, he’s great in pass defense, he’s a great route runner.”

Costello’s reputation

This should be a great game between two teams entering the 2024 season with Super Bowl hopes.

The Jets could have some initial problems on offense. They have three new starters on the offensive line and Aaron Rodgers hasn’t played a full game in 20 months. That, along with the fact that they’re playing at home, gives the 49ers an advantage.

49ERS 27, JETS 20