“I’m concentrated on this week and playing Seattle on Sunday.”
That’s what 49 ers star running back Christian McCaffrey told press reporters Friday after he missed out on experiment a calf injury and was noted as questionable for Week 1 against the Seahawks on Sunday.
Currently let’s flashback to Sept. 6, 2024– virtually a year ago to the day. After remaining a lot of training camp with what was called a calf bone injury, he was listed as suspicious for the season opener against the Jets McCaffrey cleaned it off, saying the injury was “not a worry for me.”
Things intensified really rapidly from there. We after that discovered McCaffrey was managing bilateral Achilles tendinitis, which landed him on damaged reserve. The injury was so significant that McCaffrey travelled to Germany to see an expert. He returned after missing out on the very first eight games– just to tear his PCL regarding a month later on and miss the rest of the period.
So yeah, we’re not taking the bait this time, McCaffrey. We still have PTSD from in 2015.
Any injury with McCaffrey is alarming due to the fact that he’s missed 37 video games over the previous four seasons. The truth that McCaffrey had reciprocal Achilles tendinitis in 2015, necessitating that journey to Germany, and is handling a calf injury now, is about as concerning as it gets, regardless of his efforts to quiet it. Now it feels like we’re taking care of a ticking time bomb, even if he plays Week 1
McCaffrey is generally not a quick therapist. He missed out on 13 video games in 2020 with a combination of ankle, shoulder and quad injuries. After that he was out for 10 games in 2021 with ankle joint and hamstring injuries. You can look back to 2023 for a best-case scenario for 49 ers fans. He missed out on just the period finale in 2023 with a minor calf pressure endured in the previous week. He returned and squashed it in the playoffs as San Francisco made the Super Bowl That doesn’t feel like one of the most likely situation right here, however, at based upon in 2015’s injuries.
Christian McCaffrey injuries considering that 2020
|
2024 |
Torn PCL |
5 |
|
2024 |
Achilles |
8 |
|
2023 |
Calf bone |
1 |
|
2021 |
Ankle joint |
5 |
|
2021 |
Hamstring |
5 |
|
2020 |
Quad |
4 |
|
2020 |
Shoulder |
3 |
|
2020 |
Ankle |
6 |
There are a lot of ramifications if this injury remains or at some point develops into something worse, which feels inescapable.
The 49 ers season can be over before it starts
If McCaffrey has to miss out on any considerable amount of time, I’m sorry, however the 49 ers are done. This is already a 49 ers team that lost 8 starters this offseason. Jauan Jennings is taking care of a calf bone injury, Brandon Aiyuk gets on the PUP listing, Demarcus Robinson is suspended and Deebo Samuel was traded to the Leaders
Plus, you might suggest McCaffrey was already the engine that made the 49 ers offense go when they made the Super Dish in 2023 He led the NFL in scrimmage lawns (2, 023 and touchdowns (21 while winning NFL Offensive Gamer of the Year. If the 49 ers are going to recover this year, it’s since McCaffrey has a beast year. We have actually seen what they’ve done without McCaffrey, and it’s not good. The 49 ers have a 23 – 8 document when McCaffrey plays considering that trading for him in 2022 When he does not play, they’re 5 – 9
There’s no guarantee McCaffrey appears like himself when he returns
McCaffrey is the ultimate chess piece who can develop mismatches around the area and is a top-three running back in the league when healthy. He didn’t check out all like that in 2014 in the four video games he played. It appeared like he lost a step, so whose to say this minor calf injury will not stand in the method of him regaining MVP form? McCaffrey posted the lowest missed tackle rate of his job (10 %) in 2024, and only 12 % of his runs went for 10 -plus yards, below 16 % in 2023
Brock Purdy would be under even more stress and scrutiny
This likewise puts a large concern on Brock Purdy, who authorized a five-year expansion worth $ 265 million this offseason. Purdy has actually appeared like an MVP-caliber quarterback in Kyle Shanahan’s system when all of his pieces are healthy and balanced. He’s like any type of quarterback at getting the ball right into the hands of his playmakers with anticipation and accuracy. He has actually additionally shown a propensity for expanding have fun with underappreciated athleticism.
However, he’s looked shaky to say the least when the deck is piled versus him. Purdy has a losing record (10 – 11 in his profession when any one of McCaffrey, Samuel, Aiyuk, Trent Williams or George Kittle does not play. He’s 17 – 4 when all 5 play. Now, there’s a possibility he’s starting the season without McCaffrey, Aiyuk and certainly Samuel.
Purdy’s hasn’t been as reliable when the game doesn’t go as scripted, either. He has 9 goal passes and 15 interceptions in his job when linked or routing in the 2nd fifty percent, including playoffs. The 49 ers will most likely be playing in even more negative manuscripts once again this year. The run game wouldn’t be almost as reliable without McCaffrey, even with the profession for Brian Robinson Jr and Isaac Guerendo offering some deepness.
And Also, San Francisco’s protection was bottom-five in the NFL in 2015, which was before losing 6 beginners on that particular side of the ball this offseason. They may need to win some track fulfills this year. That’s going to be extremely tough to do when they could be this undermanned and putting means way too much on Purdy’s shoulders. That might inevitably imply Purdy is in line to encounter a lot of examination this year. It can likewise be a chance for him to expand from in 2015 and prove individuals incorrect. We will see.
Your dream team might be in a massive hole
Meanwhile, the reaction of every McCaffrey dream owner available.
He was an agreement first-round choice in 2025 in spite of missing 13 video games last period. He led all running backs in PPR fantasy points per video game in 2023 (24 5 and is the career leader at the position dating back to the NFL-AFL merging in 1970 (221
A lingering injury could not be as ruining for your fantasy team as though for the 49 ers. Kyle Shanahan constantly operates a running back manufacturing facility, so with any luck you got a great handcuff with either Robinson or Guerendo. Guerendo took off with 26 8 fantasy factors in his very first occupation beginning in Week 14 last period before trailing off, however he at least has upside.
There’s additionally plenty of potential organization champions with all the eruptive rookie rushes wanting to leave their mark in 2025 Any one of these names might raise to RB 1 condition with the right amount of playing time: Omarion Hampton , TreVeyon Henderson , RJ Harvey , Kaleb Johnson , Web cam Skattebo and Bhayshul Tuten
Finally, McCaffrey’s quotes today make the injury noise much less severe than originally feared. You could want to make use of that strong PR spin and sell reduced now to redeem some of his value.
McCaffrey’s tradition goes to risk
If you’re not a 49 ers fan, or a McCaffrey dream owner, you might still be missing out on the McCaffrey experience. He averages the fourth-most skirmish backyards per video game in NFL history (114 2 behind Jim Brown, Billy Sims and Barry Sanders. He is among the most total running backs of all-time as the only gamer ever with averages of 50 hurrying backyards per game and 45 receiving yards per video game. It would certainly be dreadful for the sporting activity if this injury gets worse.
At this point, there feels like two potential end results: He either shakes off a minor calf pressure and proceeds a Hall of Popularity career, or his injury history repeats itself and his profession just ends up being a “suppose”.
Following 2023, he was one of 10 gamers in NFL background with 10, 000 skirmish backyards and 80 goals with 7 periods together with LaDainian Tomlinson, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Adrian Peterson , Marshall Faulk, Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson, Shaun Alexander and Ezekiel Elliott I would certainly love to see McCaffrey finish his job because kind of business instead of claiming, “Keep in mind when McCaffrey got on the course to being among the best running backs ever before?”
Could it even influence Kyle Shanahan?
If this is the beginning of completion for the 49 ers season, after that that knows what the domino effect could be. I would be worried concerning the 49 ers brass, particularly Shanahan’s future. In 2014’s Super Dish hangover clearly took a toll on him and all of the Super Dish heartbreak for many years has too. Who knows just how he’ll respond if the 49 ers have an additional ruthless year like last period when they dealt with the most injuries in the NFL. Would certainly he want a fresh start? Would he intend to step away from coaching or continue chasing after an evasive championship with the 49 ers.
These are amongst the ideas that race via your mind when you see “calf injury” and “Christian McCaffrey” together. It’s a substantial warning.
On the flip side, perhaps all of this is for naught. McCaffrey can be great and the 49 ers could benefit from a simple schedule and winnable division to compete for a Super Bowl again.
Just time will tell.