A lot for slowly working Christian McCaffrey into the combination.
Taking part in in his first sport since Feb. 11, McCaffrey had 19 touches for 107 yards (13 carries for 39 yards, six receptions for 68 yards) within the 49ers’ 23-20 win over the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday.
McCaffrey hadn’t performed because the Tremendous Bowl in Las Vegas whereas battling a cussed case of Achilles tendinitis. His restoration took him to Germany and again. A apply warrior since he arrived in 2022, McCaffrey for probably the most half has been a reluctant spectator in the course of the offseason, coaching camp and the primary eight video games of the common season.
“I’m just happy I’m here, man,” McCaffrey stated on the postgame podium. “That was a long journey and a lot of long days. It feels good to win, and it feels good to just play in a football game again.”
Whereas McCaffrey wasn’t essentially at his do-it-all explosive finest and didn’t rating a landing, what he was capable of accomplish in his first sport again will solely add to his legend.
“That’s the third time I’ve had pads on in eight weeks, so just getting back into a groove, that was good for me to do,” McCaffrey stated. “I think there’s a couple of things that maybe I didn’t feel like myself 100 percent. But that’s normal when you haven’t played in a long time. I’ll learn and grow from those and keep trucking along.”
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball in the course of the third quarter towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photograph by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Pictures)
McCaffrey’s 19 touches have been solely barely beneath his common of 21.2 a yr in the past. The boys who changed McCaffrey in his absence, Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo, received one carry every.
Coach Kyle Shanahan went in with the concept of limiting McCaffrey considerably. The primary time McCaffrey got here out, he appeared perturbed, and he wound up lacking simply six snaps within the first half. Within the second half, he missed all of two extra.
Shanahan clearly doesn’t perceive the idea of “load management,” and admitted as a lot afterward.
“In the second half it got away from us a little bit,” Shanahan stated. “He didn’t need to be taken out. We talked to him, he felt great. Going to be pumped to have him back next week.”
In McCaffrey’s absence, Mason and Guerendo had caught 14 passes in eight video games. Nearly as good as McCaffrey is as a runner — and he led the NFL with 1,459 yards dashing in 2023 — his potential as a receiver is what units him aside.
McCaffrey’s largest play got here with 8:55 left and the 49ers trailing 17-13. He circled out of the backfield to the appropriate sideline as Brock Purdy was being pressured and hauled in a 30-yard cross to the Bucs’ 23-yard line. It helped arrange George Kittle for an off-schedule 11-yard landing catch from Purdy for a 20-17 lead.
“It was a great throw,” McCaffrey stated. “He had pressure in his face, I guess, and it was a perfectly thrown ball. It’s not easy to put touch on it, to understand where I’m at on the field, and he was able to put it there. That was a good play.”
Christian McCaffrey (23) will get previous Antoine Winfield on a cross completion from Brock Purdy within the fourth quarter of a 23-20 win over Tampa Bay. Getty Pictures
Even with McCaffrey again, the 49ers didn’t rating on their first two purple zone alternatives — though on one among them he was on the sidelines after Purdy had taken a sack. The 49ers’ level complete (23) was a modest one, partly as a result of Jake Moody missed three subject targets earlier than connecting from 44 yards on the game-winner.
Purdy, nevertheless, felt McCaffrey’s impression was apparent. McCaffrey’s presence helped Jauan Jennings (seven receptions, 93 yards) and Ricky Pearsall Jr. (4 receptions, 73 yards, one landing) and created points for the Tampa Bay protection.
Jennings and Pearsall had 40 yards on 4 completions on the 49ers’ game-winning drive, and to Purdy, it was no coincidence McCaffrey was on the sector on the time.
“We had multiple plays with him the backfield throwing the ball,” Purdy stated. “Defenses have to scheme that up, which can open it up for some other guys.”
McCaffrey’s presence, nevertheless, went past the X’s and O’s.
“More than anything, just seeing how gritty and tough he is, we get behind him,” Purdy stated. “He keeps us all going and lights that fire in our huddle. It’s huge having him in there.”
Left deal with Trent Williams observed the distinction.
“Getting (McCaffrey) back is a help,” Williams instructed reporters. “A lot of people don’t realize he hasn’t played a lot of snaps since the Super Bowl. He gave us a tremendous boost but he’s going to continue to get better.”
Kittle instructed Fox sideline reporter Erin Andrews: “Christian’s just got an elite aura. He’s got this baller in him and as soon as he’s on the field it lifts everybody around him.”
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers and Bucky Irving #7 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hug Round The Grounds at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photograph by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Pictures)
McCaffrey stated he approached the sport like another even when it had been a very long time even when it had been practically 9 months since he performed in a single.
“I try to feel emotions as they come,” McCaffrey stated. “I don’t really plan anything. I have my routine. It’s all about my body and making sure the warmup is on point. If the excitement comes, be excited. But I try to stay even-keeled. But when you miss time due to something like that, nobody wants to be on the field more than me. To just be out there again, you realize how much of a privilege it is just to play football.”
The 49ers return house to face Seattle subsequent week, then have a tough two-game highway stretch towards Inexperienced Bay and Buffalo.
Monday might be a giant day for McCaffrey to see how he bounces again.
“I feel pretty good,” McCaffrey stated. “I thought I would be a lot more sore. I never feel like saying anything until you wake up.”
Initially Revealed: November 10, 2024 at 4:14 PM PST
