Who would’ve thought that November 10, 2024, would be the day that Christian McCaffrey finally appeared in his first game of the season. The 49ers star running back has not appeared in a meaningful game since their loss to the Chiefs in last year’s Super Bowl. The 49ers offense has clearly missed McCaffrey as they have struggled to score touchdowns when entering the red zone. The 49ers simply cannot finish drives, and the absence of McCaffrey has been the obvious reason. At long last, the man who has made the 49ers offense one of the NFL’s best the last few seasons, returned to the delight of 49er fans across the world. Although he is just getting back into the swing of things, having him on the field is all that matters for San Francisco. McCaffrey finished the afternoon with only 39 rushing yards on 13 carries, but, keep in mind, this is the first time in eight weeks he has put shoulder pads on. What makes McCaffrey so special is that he never makes excuses, even if he hasn’t played for the last couple months. He pushes himself harder, both physically and mentally, than anyone else. No wonder Christian McCaffrey is considered one of the best players is NFL.
Also Read: Christian McCaffrey is back and ready to go .
Where Have You Been?
Getting Christian McCaffrey back on the field was the best news anyone in the 49ers organization could’ve asked for. What was once believed to be a “minor” calf strain injury, turned into a complete disaster for San Francisco. There was speculation that McCaffrey might miss most, if not all, of the 2024 season. He did not practice or participate in any team drills for months. Although he was optimistic he would return, extreme doubt continued to haunt the 49ers front office. Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo have performed well all season, but they are not Christian McCaffrey. Having him back in action will provide the motivation this team needs to get back to their dominate self.
McCaffrey played well in his return, a 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he was less than satisfied. He even stated that he “wasn’t himself”, which comes as no surprise because of of his character. He expects to be the best, even when he’s not at his best. This warrior mentality is what makes him Christian McCaffrey. Having to stand on the sidelines and watch his teammates had to be absolutely devastating for him. All this waiting had to fell like an eternity, never knowing when his nightmare would be over . Now the 49ers can finally breath a sigh of relief. Their main weapon is back, and the time to kick things into high gear is now.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates scoring a touchdown in the third quarter with fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44) and offensive tackle Colton McKivitz (68) against the Green Bay Packers during their NFC divisional playoff football game.
The Drive For Six?
With Christian McCaffrey back in the lineup, are the 49ers automatically the team to beat in the NFC? As of now, the easy answer is no. The Lions and Eagles have been the top two teams in the NFC recently, so the 49ers have an uphill battle to climb. Unfortunately for the Lions and Eagles, having McCaffrey back puts the 49ers in a strong position to return to their winning ways. The Super Bowl remains the number one priority for the 49ers after falling short just a year ago. If there is one team that can overcome a shaky start to the season and return back to the Super Bowl, it’s the San Francisco 49ers. As long as McCaffrey’s calf muscle holds up, the 49ers will be a very scary team as the year rolls on.
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