Christian McCaffrey hopes longer offseason leads to better health in 2025 for 49ers
Associated Press
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — 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."
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% every play and continue to get better. I just try to focus on that.'
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
recommended
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Viktor Hovland with a neck injury is among 3 players to withdraw at Travelers
Associated Press CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Viktor Hovland withdrew after two holes at the Travelers Championship on Sunday when he felt soreness in his neck on the range and the pain became worse. Hovland was among three players to withdraw from the PGA Tour's signature event. Eric Cole, who was tied for 14th, pulled out before the round started with an illness. Matti Schmid withdrew after playing four holes. Hovland said he felt great while warming up until deciding to hit a couple of drives and then he felt something in his neck. 'It felt fine, didn't feel hardly anything at all, just felt like something was maybe brewing,' Hovland said. 'Then the next shot that I hit with a driver it just felt like ... it just cracked. I don't know exactly what happened, but there's something that happened and just couldn't move.' Hovland said he could barely stand over the ball and move his neck when he withdrew. 'Couldn't really do anything,' he said. Hovland was in the same group as Scottie Scheffler, turning that group into a twosome. ___ AP golf: recommended
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
5 San Francisco 49ers who could win NFL MVP award in 2025
The San Francisco 49ers haven't had an NFL MVP award winner since 1994 when quarterback Steve Young took home the trophy for a second time in three seasons. They got close in 2023 when running back Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Brock Purdy finished No. 3 and No. 4 in the voting, respectively. We were sifting through their chances to snag an MVP winner for the first time in more than 30 years and came up with five players who could bring the award back to the Bay Area: 5. LB Fred Warner It's admittedly hard to fathom a linebacker winning an MVP award. We picked Warner out of respect for his all-around skill set and the fact he was a First-Team All-Pro last year despite playing from Week 4 on with a fractured ankle. If the 49ers have the No. 1 defense and Warner leads the way with a few interceptions, a handful of sacks, and some dominant prime time performances, perhaps an off-ball LB works his way into the MVP conversation. 4. QB Mac Jones Look, at least we're making Jones the No. 4 candidate and not No. 1 like some people did after Sam Darnold signed with the 49ers ahead of the 2023 season. That was actually a thing. While Jones hasn't been particularly good since his rookie season, he's still a quarterback which gives him a major boost in the MVP discussion. If Purdy gets hurt early in the year and Jones steps into head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, thrives and leads San Francisco to a division title, he would at the very least be in the discussion for the award. 3. DE Nick Bosa Playing a high-profile position where sacks offer a flashy, catch-all stat for voters to cite helps Bosa's case quite a bit over other defensive players. The 49ers would love to get a year from their former Defensive Player of the Year where he leaps into the MVP conversation. If he does, it means he's in the 20-plus sack realm and spearheading a defense that is one of the NFL's most dominant units. 2. RB Christian McCaffrey We don't need to reach very far to make McCaffrey an MVP candidate considering he finished third in MVP voting just two years ago. Despite his recent injury problems, McCaffrey is still the most unique playmaker on the 49ers. Quarterback Brock Purdy may have to rely on McCaffrey a lot as a receiver, putting another season with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards on the table. If he hits those benchmarks on a high-octane 49ers offense, he'll be back in the MVP mix. 1. QB Brock Purdy The 49ers paid Purdy like a player who can win an MVP, and he played like that in 2023. Last season he took a step back, but if he and the 49ers improve this year, and the 49ers offense gets back to scoring 30 points on almost everyone, he'll be prominent in the MVP discourse.
Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Reds set to call up top pitching prospect Chase Burns from minors to start against Yanks
Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds are preparing to call up top pitching prospect Chase Burns to start during their series against the New York Yankees this week. Burns, a 22-year-old right-hander, has rapidly moved through the minor leagues after Cincinnati drafted him with the No. 2 pick last year from Wake Forest. Burns is 7-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 13 starts at three minor-league levels this year, including two with Triple-A Louisville. 'It's kind of hard to come up with a reason why we shouldn't,' Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday. 'They tried to throw a lot at him. He just kind of handled everything. The Reds' rotation is short-handed after starters Hunter Greene and Wade Miley went on the injured list earlier this month. Nick Lodolo is scheduled to start Monday's series opener against New York, and the 6-foot-3 Burns is in line to make his debut Tuesday. 'It's another game, but it is a major league team, He's going to have a lot of firsts, but he's handled everything so far,' said Francona, whose team entered Sunday with a 39-38 record and in fourth place in the NL Central. 'And I think there's an excitement, and, you know, I think the front office, they're trying to help us win, and I think we appreciate that.' Cincinnati also made a series of roster moves before Sunday's game at St. Louis, recalling right-hander Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville and bringing back third baseman Jeimer Candelario (lumbar spine strain) from a three-week rehab assignment. Right-hander Chase Petty was optioned to Louisville, and second baseman Garrett Hampson was designated for assignment. The Cardinals recalled right-hander Gordon Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis and optioned right-hander Andre Granillo to Memphis. ___ AP baseball: recommended
