Zero is the only number that matters for Christian McCaffrey in 2024.
The most dynamic running back in the NFL still has not taken the field, dragged down by lingering calf and Achilles tendinitis issues.
GettyChristian McCaffrey hasn’t played since the 49ers lost the Super Bowl[/caption]
Rumors have swirled that the reigning Offensive Player of the Year could miss the entire season.
Internet headlines have also been confusing.
While one injury update will proclaim that the 49ers “finally receive good news” about their most important player, the same update will have a much different treatment by another publication.
“New update on McCaffrey is troublesome” has been a common sight, and a missing McCaffrey is the primary reason that what should be the NFC’s best team has started a backward 2-3.
Last week, the 2023 NFC champs couldn’t hold a late lead against Arizona, then allowed Kyler Murray to throw it back to 2021 as the Cardinals unearthed a 24-23 road victory.
Throw in a 1-3 run in the last four games, and something is clearly off in San Francisco, the season after the high-powered 49ers were seconds away from winning Super Bowl LVIII and preventing Patrick Mahomes‘ Kansas City Chiefs from building a dynasty.
Brock Purdy has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL through Week 5, so it’s not Mr. Relevant’s fault.
The second-best offense in the league in average yards (407.4) is being backed by a solid defense that ranks 10th in yards allowed (307.8) and is tied-for-12th in points (21.2).
So why is San Francisco falling 27-24 to the less-than-average Los Angeles Rams, and needing to play the worse-than-average New England Patriots for a win?
Because an eighth-year pro who ran for 1,459 yards last season and added 564 through the air is still missing.
GettyMcCaffrey is the NFL’s best running back when healthy[/caption]
GettyHe also enjoys his time away from the football field[/caption]
For all of the attention given to Kyle Shanahan’s masterful offense, McCaffrey is the core of everything.
He’s an old-school running back in a league obsessed with first-round draft pick quarterbacks.
He’s sleek, athletically modern and explosive, scoring 21 total touchdowns last season while also earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
In 2023, Lamar Jackson won the NFL MVP, Dak Prescott finished second, and then there was McCaffrey.
He received more voting points than Mahomes, Josh Allen, Tyreek Hill and Purdy.
During an era when running backs have been devalued, McCaffrey is underpaid at $19 million a year — as long as he is on the field.
Carolina traded McCaffrey for several reasons, a few of which will never make sense.
But it’s a fact that the No. 8 overall pick of the Panthers in 2017 only played in 10 combined games from 2020-21, dealing with ankle, shoulder and hamstring problems.
McCaffrey also won’t play on Thursday Night Football against NFC West rival Seattle.
Geno Smith and the Seahawks have an advantage with the 49ers missing a big weapon
“His plan is to continue his rehab, and every day you try to push the rehab more and more,” Shanahan said.
The 49ers should improve to 3-3 without their most important player.
San Francisco has won its last five games against the Seahawks, offsetting a 30-22 all-time record in Seattle’s favor.
The last time that the Seahawks beat the 49ers was December 5, 2021.
Russell Wilson was still Seattle’s QB and Purdy was still at Iowa State.
The only problem for San Francisco?
McCaffrey also was missing from the 49ers the last time that the Seahawks won in the intense West Coast rivalry.
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