The San Francisco 49ers were hit hard by injury issues last season, including a couple to star running back Christian McCaffrey that sidelined him for all but four games.
San Francisco entered Week 13 against the Buffalo Bills with a 5-6 record, still clinging to postseason hopes and the chance to defend their status as NFC champions. However, McCaffrey left that early December contest with a PCL injury and took the Niners’ playoff chances with him.
The Bills routed the 49ers by a score of 35-10. San Francisco went on to beat the lowly Chicago Bears the following week before losing its last four contests of the campaign.
McCaffrey missed the entirety of that stretch on IR. He also sat out the first eight games of the year due to issues with his calf and Achilles tendon.
Niners general manager John Lynch is in Indianapolis this week at the NFL combine, where he spoke with media members who asked after McCaffrey’s health — questioning Lynch specifically on whether the running back will be ready to take part in the offseason workout program.
“I think at least parts of it,” Lynch said on Wednesday, Feb. 26. “We’ll be judicious and follow the medical folk’s advice on that. But [McCaffrey], he’s done a great job with the rehab.”
McCaffrey was a Pro Bowler, a First-Team All-Pro, the league’s Offensive Player of the Year and finished third in MVP voting in 2023 on the strength of an NFL-leading 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He also tallied 67 receptions for 564 receiving yards and 7 scores.
Across his four games last season, McCaffrey mustered just 348 yards from scrimmage and failed to find the end zone. San Francisco finished the campaign with a 6-11 record after playing in the Super Bowl the season prior.