Christian McCaffrey looks like his 2023 self as re-energized 49ers begin OTAs

New York Times

4 days ago

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — You have to keep in mind it was merely the second OTA practice of the spring season. And there was no tackling or hitting. And the players on the field at the time weren't even wearing helmets.
But – whew! – Christian McCaffrey looked electric on one of his runs Thursday, one where he hopped through the line of scrimmage before accelerating past the linebackers and bursting up the middle of the field.
The run was evidence that McCaffrey, who missed the bulk of the 2024 season with Achilles and knee injuries, is back at full strength and looking more like his 2023 self. And it seemed symbolic of the extra pep the San Francisco 49ers seem to have this spring.
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A year ago at this time, McCaffrey and several high-profile teammates either weren't practicing or weren't present. McCaffrey, then the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, was in the midst of contract talks that resulted in a two-year extension.
The entire team, meanwhile, was coming off a season that lasted into mid-February. No one was exactly eager to hop back into the weight room, meeting room and practice field when the offseason program began that April.
'I felt guys weren't ready to come back,' Kyle Shanahan said. 'And I understood that.'
This year has been different. Shanahan told the players in their final team meeting in January that, with an extra five weeks of rest this year, he expected full attendance when the team reassembled April 22.
'And I thought the coolest thing was everyone being there on the first day,' Shanahan said. 'We had every guy show up and I didn't have to call anyone and beg them, which said a lot.'
Defensive end Nick Bosa, who usually trains with his brother in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was on the field for Thursday's OTA practice. And while he was absent Thursday, the 49ers' elder statesman on offense, tackle Trent Williams, had been present until recently.
'Ninety-nine percent of us are here,' George Kittle said. 'So when all your best players are here, kind of setting the tone, setting examples … the vibes are high. I'd say they're immaculate.'
Sights and sounds, including a look at Bosa and Williams #49ers pic.twitter.com/aj0LGxvGQt
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) May 29, 2025
Some observations from the first open OTA of the season:
• While the majority of the players are in the building, not everyone was on the field. Some, like Brandon Aiyuk (ACL), Malik Mustapha (ACL), rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins (calf, week to week), rookie quarterback Kurtis Rourke (ACL) and rookie safety Marques Sigle (sports hernia), are recovering from injuries.
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Shanahan also said safety Ji'Ayir Brown had ankle surgery this offseason and wouldn't be ready until training camp. Receiver Ricky Pearsall, meanwhile, 'tweaked a hamstring,' Shanahan said, and will miss a couple of weeks. Pearsall, who changed his number from 14 to 1, also missed a portion of last year's training camp with a hamstring issue.
Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos is away for the birth of his child.
• A receiver who's already at full speed: Jauan Jennings. As was the case in 2024, he was Brock Purdy's favorite wide receiver target Thursday, connecting on all but two passes that went in his direction. The best completion of the day was a deep ball down the left sideline over cornerback Renardo Green during seven-on-seven drills (no linemen).
'Jauan's still on fire, which is really fun to see,' Kittle said.
Kittle noted that Purdy, who recently signed a five-year, $265 million contract extension, has been more vocal this offseason. Asked to give an example, Kittle cited a rare miss to Jennings on Thursday, a crossing-pattern attempt on which Jennings appeared to slow down before the ball arrived.
'JJ, keep running!' Purdy yelled, per Kittle.
The top three receivers Thursday were Jennings, Demarcus Robinson and Jacob Cowing, who trained with Purdy in the offseason.
• Asked if any young players have stood out to him, Fred Warner cited first-round draft pick Mykel Williams and third-rounder Nick Martin. He said Martin, a fellow linebacker, hasn't been shy about asking him questions.
'And I've seen the athleticism flash already on the field in the way that he closes,' Warner said. 'He closes space really quickly and he already has the great mindset of wanting to learn.'
Williams' effort has also stood out.
'He said, 'Man, I just want to run to the ball,'' Warner said. 'As a young player who's seen a lot of success at an SEC school like Georgia, and he's coming onto the team as a first-round draft pick, 11th overall, and he's talking about running to the football? You don't hear that very often. That just shows me we've got the right kind of guys.'
The 49ers' DEs run the hoop drill. Rookie Mykel Williams is the third guy in …
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— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows.bsky.social) May 29, 2025 at 4:37 PM
• The rookies are very much in learning mode at this stage and didn't have many prominent roles in Thursday's practice. The exception was fourth-round receiver Jordan Watkins, who caught three passes — two from Purdy — in the practice. Watkins looked as fast and fluid as advertised, with his first catch from Purdy resulting in a big gain down the middle of the field.
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• The team was light on tight ends. Kittle only got on the field occasionally, while Ross Dwelley and Jake Tonges worked out on a side field. That left newcomer Luke Farrell, Brayden Willis and Mason Pline as the main players at the position. Both Farrell, who is wearing No. 89, and Pline stand out for their size.
• With Brown, Mustapha, Sigle and George Odom (unknown) sitting out, the 49ers also were low on safeties. Newcomers Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant served as the first-string safeties. Mustapha watched the practice next to general manager John Lynch, who always positions himself in the middle of the field, well behind the defense.
• With Trent Williams absent, Spencer Burford lined up at left tackle. Ben Bartch was the first man up at left guard, although Nick Zakelj also took a few reps there with the first-team offensive line. Recently signed tackle Andre Dillard did not take part in the practice.
• The linebacker group looks a lot different than it has in recent years when Dre Grenlaw and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles were on the roster. Warner was on hand for the practice but didn't take part. That left Tatum Bethune at middle linebacker, Dee Winters at weakside linebacker and newcomer Luke Gifford at strongside linebacker.
• As it stands now, Tre Brown is operating as the No. 3 cornerback behind Green and Deommodore Lenoir. Brown came down with the only interception of the practice. Draft pick Upton Stout, who worked as the nickel back with the second-team defense, will try to wrestle away the No. 3 role from Brown in training camp.
• There's more competition on special teams than there's been in years. Not only is veteran Greg Joseph on hand to push Jake Moody at kicker, but new coordinator Brant Boyer has brought in a slew of coverage specialists to compete for spots.
The team added veterans like Gifford and Siran Neal in March and on Wednesday signed one of Boyer's former New York Jets players, linebacker Chazz Surratt, who led the Jets last season with 10 special teams tackles.
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The 49ers also have a new long snapper, Jon Weeks, and punter, Thomas Morstead, after longtime punter Mitch Wishnowsky was cut on Wednesday. Wishnowsky, who missed half of the 2024 season with a back injury, is healthy now, Shanahan said.
'He's going to go to a team and help a team out a lot,' Shanahan said. 'But those are things you've always got to predict. You don't know how those things go and you've got to take the risk-reward and something that to me wasn't a big risk or worth the risk until someone like Morstead became available.'
(Top photo of Christian McCaffrey: Chris Unger / Getty Images)