McCaffrey is healthy again, thanks to 49ers' long offseason

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Of the many San Francisco 49ers who needed a full offseason to recover from the toll of previous seasons and begin working toward the fresh start in 2025, perhaps none required that extra time more than running back Christian McCaffrey.

In many ways, the 2024 season was a lost one for McCaffrey. Just months after having one of his best years as the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year, McCaffrey's encore was interrupted by multiple injuries that limited him to only four games. That included bilateral Achilles tendinitis that kept him out the first eight games of the season and a posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee that prevented him from playing in the final five games.

As the team foundered in his absence to 6-11, a frustrated McCaffrey set his sights on getting healthy to return to full strength in 2025. Although there's a long way until San Francisco's Sept. 7 season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, McCaffrey not only made it through the offseason program with no issues but did so while participating every step of the way.

"Being fully transparent, obviously last year didn't go the way I wanted," McCaffrey said. "I didn't think it went the way anyone wanted but having this time off has allowed me to start from scratch and have the time where I can build a base again, come into OTAs, play football and now get back into it mentally, emotionally, physically, in all ways. It's been much needed."

Getting McCaffrey back to full strength is one of the most important developments of the offseason for the 49ers. After saying goodbye to 17 players via trade, release or free agency in March, the Niners infused the roster with some much-needed youth.