Latest news with #ChristianMcCaffrey
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
49ers' Christian McCaffrey Receives Major Injury Update
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Heading into the 2025 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers are going to be an interesting team to watch. After a busy offseason that saw a lot of key pieces leave town, no one truly knows what to expect from the team. Two years ago, the 49ers were the best team in the NFL before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Last year, they missed the playoffs and were plagued by many different injuries. Entering the upcoming year, health is going to be a huge factor for San Francisco. Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk are just two of the players working their way back from injury. Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. Photo bySpeaking of McCaffrey, he was one of the biggest losses of last season. He only played in four games before being ruled out for the year. Read more: 49ers' Kyle Shanahan Makes Major Brock Purdy Statement After Huge Contract To start the season, the 28-year-old running back was dealing with bilateral Achilles tendinitis to begin the year. He missed the first eight games of the season. Once he recovered that from that issue, he came back to the field and quickly went out again due to a PCL injury. John Lynch spoke out on Friday with an update about McCaffrey. Things sound good for the 49ers' star running back. "He looks really good to me (with a laugh)," Lynch said. "He looks bouncy, he looks explosive... I can tell you this, he's put in the work and looks great out here." This is great news for San Francisco. A healthy version of McCaffrey is one of the best playmakers in the NFL. Back in the 2023 season, McCaffrey showcased what kind of player he's capable of being when healthy. He played in 16 regular seasons, carrying the football 272 times for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry. In addition, he caught 67 passes for 564 yards and seven more scores. Read more: Former Seahawks WR Throws Major Shade at Steelers' DK Metcalf Hopefully, he will be able to put together another full season in 2025. If he can stay on the field and healthy, he'll give the 49ers a much better chance of getting back to the postseason. With him on the field, quarterback Brock Purdy's job will be much easier as well. Purdy faced a lot of pressure without the elite running back threat on the field in 2024. San Francisco will kick off the 2025 season with a Sept. 7 matchup on the road against the NFC West division rival Seattle Seahawks. For more San Francisco 49ers and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
49ers fans energized by Christian McCaffrey's early return following right knee injury
The post 49ers fans energized by Christian McCaffrey's early return following right knee injury appeared first on ClutchPoints. The San Francisco 49ers looked like a shell of their vaunted, explosive self with the pileup of 2024 injuries. Notably, running back Christian McCaffrey, who established himself as a tone setter since his arrival via a 2022 midseason trade. S.F. fans became energized by the latest McCaffrey sight, though. Advertisement The All-Pro running back is making his comeback from a right knee injury that robbed him of his explosive nature. But a Thursday viral video energized members of the 49ers faithful. The NFC champion RB is showing the famed cut and go ability that turned him into a star in the league. McCaffrey last provided an injury update one month ago. He told ESPN he was 'feeling great.' This video shows promise of being ahead of schedule in his rehab. Granted, the 49ers don't put on pads until training camp. Kyle Shanahan and the coaching staff have to create a plan to prevent McCaffrey from re-injuring himself. So 49ers fans are holding their breaths in looking at 'Run-CMC.' Still, McCaffrey is showing signs that he hasn't lost his footing. Fans react to viral footage of Christian McCaffrey practicing with 49ers Mark Konezny-Imagn Images McCaffrey's appearance during OTAs sparked online reactions. Notably from fans who took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to react. Advertisement 'A healthy Christian McCaffrey changes EVERYTHING for the 49ers offense this season,' said one fan on X. Another fan added on X how McCaffrey 'is able to move, run and cut at full speed. He did individual drills' while in Santa Clara at the 49ers' facility. ESPN 49ers insider Nick Wagoner was on hand to watch McCaffrey run through drills. He provided this report on the returning McCaffrey. Turns out he was one of three 49ers veterans taking part in practice following pivotal injuries. 'RB Christian McCaffrey, TE George Kittle, DE Nick Bosa all did some individual and then worked in to 11 on 11 (which was done without helmets and pads),' Wagoner posted. He added how 'LB Fred Warner was present and watched but did not participate. Did not see LT Trent Williams.' McCaffrey will soon team with new $265 million teammate Brock Purdy. A healthy McCaffrey ignites the offense and lifts the 49ers' playoff chances.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Christian McCaffrey returns to 49ers practice, showing no ill effects from injuries
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers returned to the practice field this week with a very important piece back after missing most of last season with injuries. Running back Christian McCaffrey is fully recovered from the Achilles' and knee injuries that limited him to just four games last season in a major boost to the Niners.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Christian McCaffrey returns to 49ers practice, showing no ill effects from injuries
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers returned to the practice field this week with a very important piece back after missing most of last season with injuries. Running back Christian McCaffrey is fully recovered from the Achilles' and knee injuries that limited him to just four games last season in a major boost to the Niners. McCaffrey took part in the first team practice open to the media this season on Thursday, showing no ill effects from the injuries that led to a frustrating 2024 season. 'Christian is as ready as any player I've ever been around,' coach Kyle Shanahan said. 'When he gets hurt, he's got to rehab and get better. Right now he's healthy as can be. We've got to kind of protect him from himself, but Christian has a good idea of what he needs to do right now. He's doing a lot less than he normally would do, but I know he is excited on how healthy he feels and the fact that he can get out there.' McCaffrey looked like his old self in drills, showing the speed and explosiveness that helped him win AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. McCaffrey skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason last year awaiting a new contract and barely got any time on the field. He went down early in training camp with Achilles' tendinitis that sidelined him for the first eight games. He returned and played four games before injuring his right knee in Week 13 in Buffalo, then missed the final five games. He rushed for just 202 yards on 50 carries in four games and was unable to match his sensational 2023 season. The Niners hope having a healthy McCaffrey will help them bounce back from a 6-11 season in 2024. 'He's still really good at football, so that's exciting,' tight end George Kittle said. 'One year removed from being Offensive Player of the Year. Still very good at football, looks great. ... Having Christian out there is awesome.' McCaffrey won the award after leading the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and tying for the league lead with 21 touchdowns. McCaffrey had missed just one game combined in 2022-23 — a meaningless Week 18 game in the 2023 season for San Francisco when he had a sore calf — after missing 23 games because of injuries in his final two full seasons with Carolina. The Niners have had good attendance this offseason thanks in part to getting lucrative contract extensions done early with stars Kittle, quarterback Brock Purdy and linebacker Fred Warner. That's in sharp contrast to recent years when contract disputes didn't get resolved until after the start of training camp or later. 'I'm a huge fan of getting all the things done early,' Kittle said. 'I'm glad they decided to do that. That's awesome for us because now we have everybody in the building that's just focused on playing football, and focusing on just getting a little bit better every single day. I'm huge fan us getting them all done. It's good for football because now all we're focused on is football.' The one notable absence has been star left tackle Trent Williams, who took part in the start of the offseason program but has been away the past couple of weeks. Shanahan said he expected Williams back soon with mandatory minicamp starting June 10. Injury updates The Niners have several players still recovering from injuries and not taking part in the start of offseason practices, including receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and safety Malik Mustapha (knee). Shanahan also said that safety Ji'Ayir Brown had ankle surgery in the offseason and will be out until training camp. Receiver Ricky Pearsall injured his hamstring during offseason workouts and likely won't be ready until training camp. Rookies Alfred Collins (calf) and Marques Sigle (unknown) also are currently sidelined with injuries. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos is also away from the team awaiting the birth of his child. ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Christian McCaffrey looks like his 2023 self as re-energized 49ers begin OTAs
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. Advertisement 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 — 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. Advertisement 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 … [image or embed] — Matt Barrows (@ 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. Advertisement • 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. Advertisement 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)
