The 2024 campaign did not unfold as Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers had anticipated. Dealing with calf and Achilles injuries during training camp, McCaffrey was eventually diagnosed with bilateral Achilles tendonitis and was placed on injured reserve. He couldn’t return until Week 10, where he lasted just four games before suffering a knee injury that ended his season altogether. In total, he averaged a mere 50 carries and 202 rushing yards during the entire season, alongside 15 receptions totaling 146 yards, and no touchdowns.

Now, as we two months past the end of his last season, McCaffrey is reportedly healthy and in a much better condition, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan voiced his positivity regarding the depth in the running back room, saying things are looking bright.

“Of course we’re set with McCaffrey, but every single year we’ve gone through this – except two years – we’ve gone through four running backs. Most teams do,” said Shanahan, via the Mercury News. “You always have to be prepared for that. But Christian is healthy and doing great.”

For now, only time will reveal if the 49ers will indeed offer more backup for McCaffrey this year. Given his history, they truly should, especially as McCaffrey is now 29 years old and coming off of a season plagued with injuries.

In 2023, he played upwards of 81% of the snaps within each of his first three games after returning from injury. He firmly reached at least an 80% snap rate across nine games and played 100% in three separate matchups.