The San Francisco 49ers are pinning their hopes on reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey to return to form as they struggle to stay in playoff contention. Despite sitting out the first eight games with Achilles and calf injuries, McCaffrey is expected to be a significant contributor to the team. However, coach Kyle Shanahan believes that expecting him to be the same dominant player he was before missing the offseason and training camp is unfair.
Shanahan pointed out that it usually takes time for a player to regain their previous form after missing an extended period, and McCaffrey is no exception. The running back has started to show signs of progress, with 149 rushing yards in his three games back, but there’s still room for improvement. Unfortunately, with a roster ravaged by injuries to key players like Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, and Trent Williams, it’s unclear if the 49ers have time for McCaffrey to fully get into top form.
Despite this, Shanahan is committed to keeping McCaffrey involved, giving him the ball 43 times since his return, while backups Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo have combined for just seven carries. Shanahan is optimistic that McCaffrey will continue to improve and feels that the running back is more comfortable on the field as he gains game experience. With the season on the line, the 49ers are pinning their hopes on a star player to lead them back to contention.
