Christian McCaffrey gets 49ers' preparations for the crucial stretch run off to an excellent start
The San Francisco 49ers had been waiting since the Thursday before their Week 2 clash with the Minnesota Vikings for Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey to get back on the field. That wait has now come to an end. McCaffrey has not featured for the 49ers in 2024 because of Achilles tendinitis in […]
The San Francisco 49ers had been waiting since the Thursday before their Week 2 clash with the Minnesota Vikings for Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey to get back on the field.
That wait has now come to an end.
McCaffrey has not featured for the 49ers in 2024 because of Achilles tendinitis in both legs.
But the 49ers on Monday confirmed they had opened McCaffrey's practice window, clearing him to take part in Monday's bonus session, a development that should fuel hope of him being able to make his season debut in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The 49ers also announced they have opened the practice window for interior offensive lineman Jon Feliciano, who has missed the entire season with a knee injury.
McCaffrey was then seen on hand and running without any obvious issues during the section of practice open to the media.
The 49ers begin the second half of their season a disappointing 4-4, albeit with reason for confidence coming off the bye following a Week 8 primetime win over the Dallas Cowboys.
McCaffrey, should he succeed in staying healthy the rest of the way will be crucial to the 49ers' prospects of getting hot down the stretch and contending to return to the Super Bowl.
San Francisco has run the ball at a high level despite McCaffrey's absence, but his presence as a mismatch as a receiver has been sorely missed by a 49er passing attack that has lived off higher difficulty throws and struggled to execute in the red zone.
The 49ers will hope McCaffrey's return will bring about a swift upturn in their fortunes. There is obvious risk in relying on a player returning from such a difficult injury to lift the Niners back to their 2023 levels, but him re-entering the fray is the perfect way to start their preparations for the stretch run.
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