logo
49ers' Christian McCaffrey Delivers Strong Update on His Comeback Path

49ers' Christian McCaffrey Delivers Strong Update on His Comeback Path

Newsweek5 days ago

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.
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for what they hope will be a major bounce-back season in 2025. After missing the playoffs last season following a Super Bowl appearance the year before, there are reasons for optimism.
Last season, the 49ers dealt with major injury issues. One of the biggest was only having star running back Christian McCaffrey for four games.
At the beginning of the year, McCaffrey was dealing with Achilles issues. He then suffered a knee injury after making his return to the field.
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 byIt was a depressing season for the 29-year-old running back. He's hoping to come back strong in 2025 and get his career back on track.
Read more: Vikings' JJ McCarthy Just Got a Big Update From NFL Insider
McCaffrey has now spoken out with a bold message about his recovery and what has been a big help for him on his path back to the gridiron.
"Being fully transparent, obviously, last year didn't go the way I wanted," McCaffrey said. "It didn't go the way anyone wanted. But having this time off has allowed me to start from scratch and have the time where I can build a base again, come into OTAs, play football and now get back into it mentally, emotionally, physically in all ways. It was much needed and I'm happy we had it."
Clearly, the superstar running back has approached his offseason the right way. He seems rejuvenated and ready to get back to dominating opposing defenses.
Back in the 2023 NFL season, McCaffrey put together a massive season. He carried the football 272 times for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. In addition, he caught 67 passes for 564 yards and seven more touchdowns.
Not only will McCaffrey getting back to full health be good for San Francisco, it will also help franchise quarterback Brock Purdy. He also had a down year in 2024 with opposing defenses being able to key in on the passing game.
Read more: Ravens' Lamar Jackson Called Out by Former NFL Player in Blunt Message
These comments should excite the 49ers' fan base. McCaffrey is in good health, both physically and mentally. He is clearly excited to get the season underway.
Hopefully, he will be able to stay healthy throughout the entirety of the 2025 season. If he can, San Francisco could be a team to watch once again in the NFC.
Only time will tell, but the 49ers seem to be trending in the right direction with McCaffrey's new status update.
For more San Francisco 49ers and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

49ers 3rd-Round Rookie Linebacker Suffers Fracture
49ers 3rd-Round Rookie Linebacker Suffers Fracture

Yahoo

time29 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

49ers 3rd-Round Rookie Linebacker Suffers Fracture

49ers 3rd-Round Rookie Linebacker Suffers Fracture originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Francisco 49ers have suffered an offseason injury as rookie linebacker Nick Martin fractured his thumb while lifting weights, as reported by Noah Furtado of the San Francisco Chronicle. Advertisement Early reports were that it was a recent injury, but Furtado clarified the situation on his X account. "Regarding rumors that #49ers third-round LB Nick Martin broke his thumb, he suffered a minor fracture a few weeks ago but did not miss any subsequent practices or workouts, per source. Martin won't need surgery and is expected to be fully healthy by training camp." It's notable that the thumb injury never sidelined Martin and he never missed any offseason practice time. He's expected to be fully ready for the beginning of training camp. The 22-year-old missed seven games of his final season at Oklahoma State with a knee injury, but he's expected to be a contributor in his rookie season after the 49ers drafted him in the third round with the No. 75 overall pick. Advertisement Martin's pick wasn't a surprise, as the team needed to address defense in the draft. Martin was a First-Team All-Big 12 standout who posted 140 tackles with 16 for loss last season, and should have an opportunity to crack the starting lineup early, as San Francisco doesn't have a ton of seasoned veterans at outside linebacker other than Fred Warner. If Martin proves he's healthy, he'll be fighting for playing time with Dee Winters, Tatum Bethune and others. But first, he could have to impress on special teams for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Related: 49ers' George Kittle Uses 'Violence' to Describe Robert Saleh's Return Related: 49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan Breaks Top 10 NFL Best Coaches This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.

49ers' Mustapha Appears Ahead of Schedule in Injury Recovery
49ers' Mustapha Appears Ahead of Schedule in Injury Recovery

Yahoo

time29 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

49ers' Mustapha Appears Ahead of Schedule in Injury Recovery

49ers' Mustapha Appears Ahead of Schedule in Injury Recovery originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Malik Mustapha quickly became a valuable asset to the San Francisco 49ers defense last season as a rookie. Heading into 2025 where the Niners lost multiple starters in the secondary, Mustapha may be called on to produce even more. Advertisement Except ... he suffered a torn ACL in San Francisco's regular season finale. The team decided to keep the injury hushed until after the NFL Draft even though Mustapha had already underwent surgery. As the team wraps up minicamp, we have already seen glimpses of the former fourth-round pick in his rehab. Mustapha was reportedly in attendance for every OTA and minicamp session, and despite not being able to compete in team drills, was working diligently with the athletic training staff at practice. He is looking very strong in a video update posted to social media, leading us to believe he could be ahead of schedule in his recovery. Mustapha's surgically repaired right knee is just 21 weeks removed from operation. The Wake Forest product, who has already undergone a knee recovery in college, was seen pulling sleds and lifting weights seemingly with ease. Advertisement Although we would have liked to see some side-to-side movement and change of direction to fully gauge his strength, we'll take what we can get in signs of progress. Still, things look good at this stage of the offseason. Initial reports predicted Mustapha would start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning he would have to miss the first four games. If he keeps up this work, he could make a run at being fully healthy before Week 5 and return to manning the 49ers' secondary sooner than expected. That would be a major plus for a San Francisco roster that was plagued with injury all throughout last season. Advertisement The Niners didn't draft a safety this year until the fifth round in Marques Sigle. The rest of the defensive backfield is likely to include youngster Ji'Ayir Brown and free-agent grab Jason Pinnock. Losing All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga will sting if the 49ers can't find a suitable substitute before Mustapha recovers. By the looks of it, he is hoping the team won't have to wait long for his return. Related: 49ers 3rd-Round Rookie Linebacker Suffers Fracture Related: 49ers' George Kittle Uses 'Violence' to Describe Robert Saleh's Return This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

Peyton Manning Goes Viral After Revealing Jalen Hurts Story
Peyton Manning Goes Viral After Revealing Jalen Hurts Story

Newsweek

time30 minutes ago

  • Newsweek

Peyton Manning Goes Viral After Revealing Jalen Hurts Story

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. Jalen Hurts has never been one to shy away from admitting he's aware of the narratives that include his name. It's unclear how much the opinions of analysts, hosts, and writers hold weight with the veteran quarterback, but NFL legend Peyton Manning recently revealed that Hurts felt a type of way when he was snubbed from a top-five list put together by the NFL Hall of Famer. During his segment at Fanatics Fest, Manning made it clear he wouldn't reveal his top five quarterbacks currently, due to Hurts' reaction to the last time he did. "I named five guys, and Jalen Hurts texted me like 20 minutes later, 'I didn't make your list?' Now, Jalen's mad at me. So, no list today," Manning said to a room full of laughter. "I'm a quarterback fan. I know how hard it is to play. So, I pull hard for quarterbacks. No list this year." Peyton Manning refused to give his Top 5 QB list after Jalen Hurts texted him last year. 👏🤣 — New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 20, 2025 While that could mean Manning might not view Hurts as a top-five quarterback in the NFL once again, the veteran could also just be looking to save himself from another angry listener. The former scenario wouldn't be anything new to Hurts, who continues to battle negative narratives even after winning the game at the highest level back in February. Statistically, Hurts had a down year during the 2024 NFL season. He threw for just 2,903 yards, marking the first time he had under 3,000 yards since his rookie season in 2020. He also tossed fewer than 20 touchdowns for the first time in two seasons. While Hurts was far from perfect, the Eagles also relied heavily on their run game after acquiring the MVP-caliber running back, Saquon Barkley. It turned out to be the right move throughout the year, as Barkley put together an MVP-worthy season and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by) Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by) When it came to playoff time, Hurts was challenged to put his arm to the test, and he delivered better than ever. In four playoff games, including the Super Bowl, Hurts completed 71 percent of his passes for a playoff career-high 726 yards. He threw for five touchdowns and just one interception. Hurts also rushed for 194 yards and scored five times on the ground. The outside opinions about Hurts' game might just turn out to be bulletin board material the quarterback can stash and put away as something he can reference back to when he needs added motivation during the regular season. No need to bring it up to anybody. When it comes to Manning, maybe that opinion holds a little more weight. After all, Manning is one of the most notable quarterbacks to get under center. The former first-overall pick in 1998 won the NFL MVP award five times. He was a two-time Super Bowl Champion and has a Super Bowl MVP victory on his resume, like Hurts. Whether Manning believes Hurts is a top QB this time around or not, the Eagles' veteran can still enter the 2025 NFL season with plenty of confidence as he's got a title to defend. For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store