The news 49ers fans have all been waiting for.
In very welcome news for San Francisco 49ers fans, Christian McCaffrey’s practice window was opened yesterday.
49ers fans have been waiting patiently for that news to break since the reigning Offensive Player of the Year was moved to Injured Reserve on 14 September.
There is no denying that McCaffrey has been missed. Although the 49ers entered their bye week tied for first place in the NFC West, their 4-4 record – and their performances on both sides of the ball – have generally fallen well below expectations.
The prospect of McCaffrey returning is clearly a significant boost.
No statistic better illustrates the value of McCaffrey to the 49ers than their red zone touchdown percentage.
San Francisco currently ranks 28th in the NFL, compared to last season with a fully healthy CMC when they topped the very same statistic.
However, the 49ers can exercise some caution with McCaffrey’s return, and it should not necessarily be full go as soon as he returns to action – whether that is in Week 10 or later.
Although no player can replicate McCaffrey’s contribution, first Jordan Mason and then Isaac Guerendo have filled in admirably for the star running back.
Mason currently ranks fourth in the NFL for rushing yards, although admittedly he has slowed down after a red-hot start.
Where Mason has slowed slightly – his unexpectedly large workload has perhaps begun to take its toll – Guerendo has seemingly got better with every snap.
Guerendo tested off the charts at the combine, and Kyle Shanahan’s scheme is doing him no harm whatsoever.
One eye already on January
At this stage in their Super Bowl window, the only games that truly matter to San Francisco are those in January.
A healthy – and fresh – CMC could prove to be an ace for the 49ers come playoff time, and may in truth be essential if the 49ers are to make another deep postseason run.
With the #1 seed and a Wildcard Round bye seemingly out of reach, the only thing that matters to the Niners for the rest of the regular season is making the playoffs in relative health.
Therefore, they should be able to afford to ease CMC in upon his return, and ride whichever hand is hottest of Mason or Guerendo.
If they do so successfully, and reach January with McCaffrey at anything close to his 2023 levels, the 49ers will be a team that no-one in the NFC – or NFL for that matter – will want to face.
