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One of the biggest disappointments of last season was undoubtedly the San Francisco 49ers, who just a year earlier had dominated the NFC and reached the Super Bowl, where they lost in an exciting overtime game to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
San Francisco started the season once again as the favorite to reign over the NFC, but injuries gradually took their toll on the team. Not only did they miss the playoffs, they ended up finishing in last place in the NFC West Division.
A major reason why San Francisco was such a disappointment was the injury trouble faced by their most important offensive player, Christian McCaffrey. He missed 12 games due to two injuries-one to his Achilles tendon and another to his knee. However, the running back is now fully ready for the season.
Christian McCaffrey is healthy and will once again be the key to the offense
Things are looking good for Christian McCaffrey during the San Francisco 49ers' offseason program, as he has been cleared to participate in team practices from the start.
Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said McCaffrey "looks incredible" and that the team's plans to make him a key part of the offense haven't changed, despite the tough year he went through.
"We're going to do everything we can to get him the ball as much as we can," said Kubiak, according to Vic Tafur of TheAthletic.com. "Health is really important. He's one of our signature players on offense."
Christian McCaffrey has been a key piece for the 49ers since arriving in 2022. In 31 games, he has totaled 2,407 rushing yards, 20 rushing touchdowns, and 1,174 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns through the air. His best season was in 2023, when he led the NFL in total yards (2,023) and was named Offensive Player of the Year.
In 2024, injuries limited his impact. He played only four games and recorded 202 rushing yards and 146 receiving yards, without scoring a single touchdown. He suffered from Achilles tendon issues and a knee injury. Despite that, the team continues to see him as a key offensive weapon.