Christian McCaffrey hopes longer offseason leads to better health in 2025 for 49ers
The biggest beneficiary of an extended offseason for the San Francisco 49ers just might have been star running back Christian McCaffrey. A year after he was limited to just four games because of injuries to his Achilles tendon and knee, the engine of San Francisco's high-powered offense was on the practice field for the offseason program and is hoping to get back to the form that made him AP Offensive Player of the Year during a run to the Super Bowl in the 2023 season.
'A healthy McCaffrey would be a key component for San Francisco to rebound from a 6–11 season that at least provided a side benefit of more time off in the winter following three straight years of long playoff runs. 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.'
For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
McCaffrey plans to spend the long break before training camp starts in late July staying in shape and becoming a father. McCaffrey and his wife, model Olivia Culpo, are expecting their first child right around the corner. McCaffrey looked fresh during the offseason program after sitting it out last year as he recovered from a grueling season and waited for a new contract that came last June.
McCaffrey had 798 touches from scrimmage in 2023–24 in the regular season and playoffs – more than 100 more than any other player in the league during that span. That workload likely contributed to the Achilles tendinitis that sidelined McCaffrey early in training camp last season and forced him to miss the first eight games of the season. He then injured his posterior cruciate ligament in his fourth game back and missed the final five games of the season.
With McCaffrey on the sideline, an offense that was the most dangerous in the league following his arrival midway through the 2022 season took a step back last season as the Niners struggled overall. Coach Kyle Shanahan said he is aware that he needs to manage McCaffrey's workload this summer in order to protect him from himself and make sure he's healthy and fresh when the games count.
'He is a psycho in a good way and so like he does everything imaginable every single day,' Shanahan said. 'Last year he couldn't because he was battling injury all last year. And this year he is healthy so he is right back to being who he is always been and it's really fun to watch.'
McCaffrey, who turned 29 earlier this month, said the key as he ages is finding the middle ground of doing the intense work to get ready for a season and making sure he doesn't wear down early. But once he's on the field he knows only one speed.
'My job is to put my body in the best position it can to go out there and be me,' he said. 'There's a lot of noise and sometimes there's a lot of things going on. My job is to go 100 percent every play and continue to get better. I just try to focus on that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Clayton Kershaw wins 3rd straight start, Miguel Rojas homers in Dodgers' 6-5 win over Nationals
Clayton Kershaw persevered through five tough innings to win his third consecutive start, and Miguel Rojas hit a two-run homer in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6–5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night. Kiké Hernández had two doubles and scored two runs, and Shohei Ohtani added an RBI single for the defending World Series champions. Los Angeles has won six of seven, improving to 6–2 on its 10-game homestand. Kershaw (3–0) yielded solo homers by Amed Rosario and Riley Adams but held Washington to five hits and repeatedly escaped trouble. Tanner Scott gave up CJ Abrams' one-out homer in the ninth before finishing his 15th save. Pinch-hitter Luis García Jr. had a two-run double in the seventh for the Nationals, who opened a nine-game Southern California road trip by falling to 3–15 in June. Washington snapped an 11-game losing streak on Thursday. MacKenzie Gore (3–7) gave up a season-high six runs – five earned – seven hits and four walks while pitching into the sixth for the Nationals. He has one victory in his last 11 starts. Hernández doubled and scored in the third when Mookie Betts beat out the relay throw on a potential inning-ending double play. Betts then scored on Abrams' throwing error, and Andy Pages added an RBI single. Adams homered in the fifth, but Rojas' homer chased Gore in the sixth. Bench coach Danny Lehmann managed the Dodgers while Dave Roberts served a one-game suspension after his ejection from LA's loss to San Diego on Thursday. Key moment: After García's two-out double with the bases loaded, Washington had two runners in scoring position when Nathaniel Lowe hit a tailing fly to left. Michael Conforto dove forward and made a dramatic catch. Key stat: The 37-year-old Kershaw has won three straight starts for the first time since April 2023, coming through when the Dodgers' rotation is badly depleted by injuries.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Perez Hits Go-Ahead Single, India and Witt Homer as the Royals Beat the Padres 6-5
Salvador Perez singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for the Kansas City Royals, who got home runs from Jonathan India and Bobby Witt Jr. to beat the San Diego Padres 6–5 on Friday night for their fourth straight win. The Royals started this trip with a three-game sweep at Texas. The Padres have lost eight of 11. San Diego's Manny Machado hit his 12th homer leading off the ninth off Carlos Estévez, who then retired the side for his big league–leading 22nd save. Padres manager Mike Shildt served his one-game suspension handed down by MLB after a brouhaha in Los Angeles on Thursday night after Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit on the right wrist by a pitch in San Diego's 5–3 win, which prevented a four-game sweep. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also was suspended for one game. Padres closer Robert Suarez was suspended for three games for hitting Shohei Ohtani with a pitch in the ninth inning. He is appealing. Tatis started Friday night after imaging showed no damage. Padres reliever Jason Adam (5–3) opened the eighth by allowing a single and a walk before the 35-year-old Perez singled to left to bring in Maikel Garcia with the go-ahead run. Drew Waters added an RBI single with two outs. Witt homered to left with one out in the first, his 11th off Nick Pivetta. Pivetta opened the fifth with consecutive walks to Freddy Fermin and Nick Loftin and then allowed India's shot to left with one out for a 4–0 lead. It was his fourth. The Padres chased starter Matt Lorenzen in the sixth as they closed to 4–2. Gavin Sheets tied it with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh off Lucas Erceg (2–2). Key moment: Jake Cronenworth worked a full count against Estévez before popping up to end it. Key stat: Xander Bogaerts, who has struggled this year, tied the Padres franchise record by hitting safely in eight straight at-bats before popping up in the ninth.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Springs Leads Athletics to 5-1 Win Over Guardians
Jeffrey Springs allowed three hits in a season-high 7 1/3 innings. Rookie Nick Kurtz homered for a third straight game, and the Athletics beat the Cleveland Guardians 5–1 on Friday night. Springs (6–5) struck out six and walked one, throwing 104 pitches for his first win since May 13. He left with a 4–1 lead after giving up Angel Martínez's homer. Kurtz followed a two-out single by Brent Rooker with his 10th home run–a 406-foot shot to left-center field–to give the Athletics the lead against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (4–7). Tyler Soderstrom singled leading off the second, and two straight fielding errors by José Ramírez at third loaded the bases. Lawrence Butler singled for a 3–0 lead. Wilson had a two-out RBI single for a 4–0 lead in the seventh. Soderstrom singled with two outs in the eighth, stole his fifth base, and scored on Luis Urías' single for the final run. Michael Kelly got the final two outs in the eighth, and Mason Miller pitched the ninth, closing out the four-hitter with help from another dazzling catch by Denzel Clarke. Bibee allowed five runs–four earned–on 11 hits with season highs of eight innings and 10 strikeouts. The Athletics have won six of their last eight. Key moment: Cleveland never recovered after Kurtz homered for the fifth time in his last six games and the ninth time in his last 15. Key stat: Kurtz, who played his first game on April 23, is the only player to hit four home runs in the ninth inning or later in a five-game span of a single season. He is one of five players age 22 or younger to hit two walk-off homers in a calendar month.
