After battling by way of quite a few accidents all through the 2024 season, San Francisco 49ers operating again Christian McCaffrey arrived on the primary day of the staff’s offseason program on a optimistic be aware.
With what he known as “zero restrictions,” the 28-year-old rejoined his teammates on Tuesday for the primary time since their season resulted in January. He appeared assured talking with reporters as he prepares for his ninth season within the league.
“I am feeling nice,” McCaffrey said, per ESPN NFL reporter Nick Wagoner. “It has been such a easy course of, a variety of exhausting work. As quickly as that harm occurred in Buffalo, that was my aim was to not miss a day of OTAs, be again, able to go together with nothing hindering me. And that is the place I am at.”
This comes a 12 months after McCaffrey was a restricted participant in final season’s offseason program whereas he labored with the staff on a contract extension. As soon as McCaffrey appeared for coaching camp with a two-year, $38M contract in hand, he suffered an Achilles harm and handled bilateral Achilles tendinitis for a lot of the primary half of the season.
After lacking eight video games with that harm, McCaffrey returned on Nov. 10 in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Three weeks later in a Week 13 tilt with the Buffalo Payments, McCaffrey injured his proper knee and battled a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) harm that sidelined him for the ultimate 5 video games.
Coming off a disappointing 2024 season that noticed the staff go 6-11 and fail to make the postseason after showing in two Tremendous Bowls the 5 seasons prior, the well being of McCaffrey is essential towards the staff’s success, particularly after shedding a number of key gamers in free company.
In contrast to earlier years when the staff saved most of its roster in tact, this offseason has been completely different. Per Wagoner, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and security Talanoa Hufanga signed with the Denver Broncos, cornerback Charvarius Ward signed with the Indianapolis Colts and large receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. was traded to the Washington Commanders.
Starters like offensive lineman Aaron Banks (Inexperienced Bay Packers) and RB Elijah Mitchell and OL Jaylon Moore (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs) have been additionally misplaced in free company. The staff moreover launched key gamers like defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, defensive deal with Maliek Collins and defensive finish Leonard Floyd.
Regardless of the roster turnover, McCaffrey nonetheless stays with the staff and may at the least present some elevated optimism getting into the 2025 season, given the success he has achieved in his profession and his present standing.
In his eight prior seasons within the league, McCaffrey has performed seven or fewer video games thrice because of quite a few accidents. Regardless of that, he has been phenomenal when has played, placing up 202 rush yards and 146 receiving yards in his 4 begins in 2024.
In his spectacular profession, McCaffrey has rushed 1,347 occasions for six,387 yards and 52 TDs, with an extra 524 catches for 4,466 yards and 29 receiving TDs.
McCaffrey’s toughness has by no means been questioned all through his profession. Assuming he can end out the offseason robust and he doesn’t endure any extra setbacks, it feels like he will likely be again at full energy, which ought to give the 49ers some extra confidence going into the 2025 season as they appear to place a lackluster 2024 season behind them.
