Kirk Herbstreit explains how Stanford should handle Christian McCaffrey's injury with Notre Dame next on the schedule. (1:04)

Stanford's sputtering offense may be without top weapon Christian McCaffrey when it visits Notre Dame on Saturday.

Coach David Shaw said the running back, who suffered an undisclosed injury during the second half of the Cardinal's 42-16 loss to Washington State, has progressed in his recovery but that a decision on his status won't come until Friday or Saturday.

"He's pretty beaten up," Shaw said. "But we'll see where he is."

McCaffrey jogged to the locker room alongside Stanford's team physician during the third quarter Saturday and returned to the sideline a few minutes later, when he did some agility drills with a helmet on but never returned to the game.

"McCaffrey did get banged up," Shaw said afterward. "But there was no reason to put him in late in the game. We just left him out."

Stanford (3-2) has scored only three offensive touchdowns in its past three games, and only one of those scores has come outside of garbage time. McCaffrey remains the Cardinal's leader this season in all-purpose yardage.

Shaw also said that starting cornerback Alijah Holder and fullback Daniel Marx likely will miss their third straight game. Cornerback Quenton Meeks, offensive lineman Casey Tucker, tight end Greg Taboada and wide receiver Francis Owusu each could play at Notre Dame (2-4), but Stanford has not yet made any definitive rulings on them.