Final 12 months’s Offensive Participant of the Yr simply hasn’t been the identical in 2024 to date, however Kyle Shanahan believes it’s ‘unfair’ to count on a lot out of Christian McCaffrey after spending so lengthy on the sideline.
Sluggish Begin For McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey was for sure the most effective non-quarterback within the NFL final 12 months however after being identified with tendinitis in the summertime, the working again started a protracted highway to restoration forward of 2024.
After spending weeks on finish receiving therapy on each of his calves, McCaffrey lastly made his season debut for the Niners in week 10 towards the Seahawks.
However final 12 months’s Offensive Participant of the Yr hasn’t been his ordinary driving power since returning and his output is a mere fraction of the numbers he was placing up final 12 months.
McCaffrey missed out on a lot whereas sidelined that it comes as no shock he has endured a sluggish begin to his marketing campaign, however Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan believes expectations have been set too excessive.
“The hypothesis on Christian, I believe, is a bit of bit unfair to him,” Shanahan mentioned. “Christian’s taking part in very nicely, he’s taking part in his ass off. However to assume a man who misses a whole offseason is simply going to be the very same the day he will get again can be unfair to any participant on this planet, I really feel like.”
Kyle Shanahan says it’s an “unrealistic expectation” to assume Christian McCaffrey needs to be taking part in on the identical degree as he did final season#49ers pic.twitter.com/Wod9e2wbqs
— Kevin Krueger (@kevinkruegs) November 27, 2024
The working again managed simply 31 speeding yards in week 12, which was his lowest recorded determine since becoming a member of the 49ers and his worst afternoon since week 4 in 2022.
“So, I believe Christian’s doing a hell of a job.” Shanahan continued, “however to only assume him coming again in Week 8 with not having the ability to do something for the final 9 months or no matter it’s, and to assume he’s simply going to be in MVP type is a really unrealistic expectation.”
San Francisco face Buffalo in Monday evening soccer this week as McCaffrey continues his comeback, nonetheless searching for his first landing of the 12 months.
