SANTA CLARA — The 49ers have plans in place to manage the workloads of running back Christian McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams during training camp.
“It’s all on paper somewhere,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday, as the entire team reported for camp. “It’s too confusing for me to memorize.”
Neither McCaffrey nor Williams took part in training camp last summer. McCaffrey was battling bilateral Achilles tendinitis, while Williams held out for a new contract.
McCaffrey made it back for only four games and saw his season come to an end due to a non-surgical knee injury. Williams missed the final seven games of the season with an ankle injury.
The 49ers are likely to set into place a plan during training camp to manage the balance of giving both McCaffrey and Williams enough practice time while also limiting the wear-and-tear on their bodies ahead of the team’s Sept. 7 opener at the Seattle Seahawks.
Clearly, the 49ers need both veteran players to remain healthy throughout the entire season and return to their forms of 2023. McCaffrey was voted as the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, while Williams was selected to his third consecutive All-Pro team.
“Last year neither of them did camp, and that didn’t help them go through the season, either,” Shanahan said. “So I’m glad that they’re both here and healthy and they get a chance to go back to have a chance to build their bodies where they have a chance to get through the season like they have in the past.”
McCaffrey, 27, is entering his 10th season as a pro. He had 1,459 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns on 272 carries while catching 67 passes for 564 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.
Last year, he had just 50 rushing attempts for 202 yards and 15 catches for 146 yards. He did not score a touchdown.
Williams, who begins his 15th NFL season, turned 37 last week.
Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast