ESPN staff writer Bill Barnwell recently analyzed last season's playoff teams and ranked each one's chances of returning to the postseason during the 2024 season. Understandably, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs topped the list, with ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) giving them an 87.1% chance of reaching the playoffs.
The San Francisco 49ers were ranked second, with FPI calculating their playoff chances at 85.6%. Barnwell highlighted that quarterback Brock Purdy's emergence from the last overall pick in 2022 to a rising NFL star has greatly benefited head coach Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers reached the Super Bowl last season, but they fell just short of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
While Barnwell acknowledges that the 49ers' roster is stronger now than during Shanahan's early years as head coach, he also points out that the team is currently battling injuries. This concern was evident when Shanahan decided to cancel the joint practices scheduled for this week in Southern California with the New Orleans Saints, citing a lack of healthy players to make the sessions worthwhile.
"It really wasn't the best thing for our team, with where we're at injury-wise," Shanahan told reporters on Monday. "Love doing that stuff, and love to go out there, but the risk was too much. It outweighed the reward."
Running back Christian McCaffrey is dealing with a calf injury that will keep him out for the preseason, though he recently downplayed the severity of the issue.
"Yeah, I feel great," McCaffrey said during a radio interview. "Very cautionary stuff. If we had a game, I would play, but just trying to be smart right now. But still training, still getting a bunch of work in, so that come Week 1, we're ready to roll."
Oft-injured running back Elijah Mitchell is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has reaggravated a shoulder injury. On Monday, at least 15 players missed the team's light practice, including wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who has refused to practice due to a contract dispute.
Tackle Trent Williams didn't even report to training camp. He is holding out for a restructured deal.
Safety Talanoa Hufanga will be evaluated this week to determine his progress in recovering from the ACL injury he sustained in November 2023, while linebacker Dre Greenlaw continues to work his way back from an Achilles injury suffered in February.
"Given the lack of draft capital the 49ers have had to work with after the Lance and McCaffrey trades and the money they've spent on their core of stars around Purdy, this isn't a team blessed with great depth," Barnwell commented. "In the NFC, though, the price of playoff admission isn't quite as high as it would be in the AFC. Barring an injury to Purdy or a cascade of injuries across its core, San Francisco should be back in the postseason for the fourth consecutive season."