Is Christian McCaffrey the Key to the 49ers’ Optimism in 2025?
The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a tough 6-11 season and haven’t made many immediate roster improvements in recent months. So, what’s the main source of hope heading into 2025?
CBS Sports points to Christian McCaffrey’s health as the biggest reason for optimism.
“San Francisco’s season truly got off to a rough start last year when Christian McCaffrey was sidelined for most of the year due to an Achilles injury,” writes CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan. “McCaffrey returned in mid-November, only to suffer a PCL injury in his right knee, which ended his season. Heading into 2025, McCaffrey has no restrictions, so he’s fully cleared and ready to go, which is a positive sign for the 49ers as they look to bounce back from a rough year.”
That said, McCaffrey wasn’t restricted at this time last season either, but he still struggled with bilateral Achilles tendonitis after just a week of training camp. This overuse injury is unpredictable and could flare up again.
At 29 years old, McCaffrey isn’t as young as he once was, and after returning from his Achilles injuries last season, his performance dipped—he averaged just 4.0 yards per carry. This raises concerns about whether he can maintain his previous level of play and stay healthy moving forward.
That’s why I think Robert Saleh is actually the biggest reason for optimism for the 49ers in 2025. Under Kyle Shanahan, the team has always had a defensive identity, and Saleh, one of the NFL’s top defensive minds, could quickly transform the 49ers’ defense into a top-10 unit.
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