HENDERSON, Nev., — Christian McCaffrey already is prepared for Week 1.
The All-Pro running back had a disappointing 2024 NFL season that was hampered by multiple injuries. Now, fully healthy, McCaffrey is set for a comeback campaign and quarterback Brock Purdy shared that the ball carrier’s motivation is very noticeable.
“Mentally he’s just, he’s on one,” Purdy said on Thursday. “Like he’s ready to get after it with the season, and obviously from beginning to end, like play a whole season and go hard. And that’s who he is.”
McCaffrey bristles anytime he is asked about his health, not wanting to revisit only being on the field for four games in 2024. After missing much of training camp, the superstar running didn’t feel like himself until San Francisco’s Week 13 contest in Buffalo, where after seven carries, he suffered a season-ending knee injury.
“He keeps telling all of us in the locker room, he’s like, ‘dude, I can’t wait, I can’t wait.’” Purdy said. “So, for me as a quarterback, I’m like, ‘dude, I love hearing that’ and obviously let’s just keep taking him one day at a time, but he’s ready to roll.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan likely will not let McCaffrey suit up during the preseason, believing the risk simply is not worth it. Shanahan also understands that the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year is getting enough preparation through joint practices with both the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders.
“You always want to keep working and stuff, but it’s such a fine line,” Shanahan said of both McCaffrey and George Kittle. “They’re ready physically when it starts, but they know they got to get through camp so their bodies can take it throughout the whole year.
“It’s tough with the way those guys play on Sunday. That’s why we got to be smart with those guys. That’s why those guys do get some vet days.”
McCaffrey has been taking a lot of reps as both a ball carrier and a receiver throughout training camp practices where there is no tackling to the ground and thus less risk of injury. The 10-year NFL veteran carried the ball nine times and caught six passes in the heat of the desert.
“I mean obviously physically he looks great, getting in and out of cuts, running hard,” Purdy said. “Back to the McCaffrey that we all know.”
Purdy believes that practicing while facing another team is enough to prepare McCaffrey for the season. The quarterback has been enjoying watching the excitement build for McCaffrey and the 49ers’ offense, especially while facing the Raiders’ defense, including pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
“It’s obviously not our team on the other side of the ball,” Purdy said. “So, when he gets to go up and meet one of their linebackers in the A-gap or Maxx Crosby coming around, like I know that gets him going and he really likes that and competing. So, for me to be able to watch that was pretty cool.”
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