Injury updates from Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo offer clarity on 49ers backfield for 2025
Arguably no position on the entire San Francisco 49ers depth chart dealt with as much injury adversity than their running back room. Christian McCaffrey missed most of the year owing to Achilles tendinitis before being sidelined with a knee injury suffered in his fourth game of the season. Jordan Mason, who excelled as McCaffrey's stand-in, […]
Arguably no position on the entire San Francisco 49ers depth chart dealt with as much injury adversity than their running back room.
Christian McCaffrey missed most of the year owing to Achilles tendinitis before being sidelined with a knee injury suffered in his fourth game of the season. Jordan Mason, who excelled as McCaffrey's stand-in, was also lost for the year in the same game, suffering a high ankle sprain in the snow against the Buffalo Bills.
Rookie Isaac Guerendo battled injuries himself after taking the lead role in the backfield, and was carted off during the first series of Sunday's loss in the season finale against the Arizona Cardinals with knee and ankle injuries.
It's unclear what tender the 49ers will place on upcoming restricted free agent Mason, who would be deserving of interest from rival teams following his impressive 2024 prior to injury, but both McCaffrey and Guerendo offered updates on their physical condition that provided some clarity on what shape they will be in when the Niners return to start preparations for 2025.
Speaking to reporters during the 49ers' exit day on Monday, 2023 Offensive Player of the Year McCaffrey explained where he is at in his recovery from a partially torn PCL.
McCaffrey, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner, said he is "definitely close" to being fully recovered and likely would have been able to return had the 49ers made the playoffs. He added that his Achilles has calmed down to the point where it will not be an issue in 2025.
"I'm feeling great now and it's just a matter of putting together the best offseason possible, working extremely hard and coming back for OTAs ready to go," said McCaffrey.
Guerendo did not speak to the media on Monday, but the fourth-round pick who flashed his home-run ability and upside in the receiving game in an encouraging rookie year confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that he had not suffered any damage to his ACL, vowing to be "back better than ever".
That will hopefully mean he will be ready to make his return when the 49ers start OTAs in the spring.
There is uncertainty about San Francisco's ability to keep Mason around, while Elijah Mitchell is a free agent after missing the entire year through injury, but with McCaffrey and Guerendo seemingly on track to be ready to have a full offseason of preparations for 2025, the Niners can afford to have confidence in their options in the backfield for next season.
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