All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers shared an encouraging health update during team minicamp, expressing that he feels “great” as he recovers from injuries sustained throughout the 2024 season.
After a 2023 season that saw him lead the 49ers to an NFC West title and a Super Bowl appearance, winning Offensive Player of the Year honors, McCaffrey faced significant setbacks. He suffered a calf/Achilles injury during training camp, limiting him to only four games, before a PCL injury in Week 12 sidelined him for the season.
McCaffrey was the league’s leading rusher in 2023 with 1,459 yards, along with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 total touchdowns. He discussed with reporters on Wednesday his dedication to getting fit for the offseason training activities (OTAs).
“I think this offseason I spent a lot of time kind of building back a base, starting from scratch,” McCaffrey stated. “So a lot of it was rehab, and I wanted to put myself in a position where I didn’t miss a day of OTAs, and could practice, play football again, be healthy and not miss a day. And I did that, and now we can kind of kick back up the training again. But I feel great.”
Since being drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2017, McCaffrey has been an elite dual-threat running back, although injuries have plagued him in recent years. In 2024, he faced more injury challenges, having previously been limited to just 10 games in 2020 and 2021, before rebounding in 2022 with a trade to the 49ers midseason.
As he approaches his ninth season at 29 years old, McCaffrey is adapting his offseason training regime to ensure his best performance. “I’ve had a lot of people tell me as you get older you need to do less. I think there’s a middle ground with that statement,” he commented. “For me, it’s kind of a constant evaluation of where your body’s at and what you need.”
McCaffrey has been actively participating in the 49ers’ team activities this spring, including OTAs and minicamp, as he looks to help his team recover from a difficult season with a 6-11 record.
