The San Francisco 49ers hope Sunday night's win over the Dallas Cowboys sparks momentum as they enter the second half of the season. With wide receiver Jauan Jennings and running back Christian McCaffrey potentially returning to practice as early as Monday, the team anticipates a healthier roster for the crucial upcoming stretch.
Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Wednesday, suggesting that McCaffrey's return could be essential to the 49ers rediscovering their identity after a 4-4 start.
McCaffrey has not played this season, landing on injured reserve due to Achilles tendinitis. Young argued that keeping the star running back healthy should be the 49ers' top priority moving forward.
When asked about the keys to the 49ers' success, Young responded, "Christian McCaffrey healthy for the second half of the season. That's number one, two and three. Now, number four is protection, making sure that when we run into the teams that can rush four and put you in a bind, that our five guys have got to answer. And I would say that we need to prove that. That would be the fourth thing. The first three things are Christian McCaffrey and then that one."
Young noted that adding a playmaker in a trade may not ultimately solve the team's woes. While an addition could help bolster the roster, he notes that bringing in a player who could disrupt the team's chemistry is also easy.
"I don't want someone to come and get in the way," Young cautioned. "But defensively, it doesn't look like we're going to be a defensive front that's going to just bring four [rushers] and just cause all kinds of grief.
"We know we can pinch with [DE Leonard] Floyd and [DE] Nick [Bosa], and that's not going to go away, and it will always be an important part of what we get done, but we can't push. And so, we're not going to dominate from the defensive line."
Young hinted that the 49ers might be in a transition phase. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have typically focused on building a strong defensive front, sometimes at the expense of other areas. However, with the secondary emerging as a strength, there could be an unexpected shift.
"I've gotta admit, everyone's pretty excited about the secondary," Young said. "I am, too. I kind of like watching them."
Young also praised George Kittle's standout performance against the Cowboys, where the tight end recorded 128 receiving yards and a touchdown on six catches. Young believes the team needs consistent standout performances like this, especially with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk out for the season. Success may even come from a rotating cast of playmakers each week.
"This year, with not everybody [healthy], we need George Kittle to be Player of the Month," Young emphasized. "CMC's (McCaffrey) got to be Player of the Month. [WR] Deebo's [Samuel] got to be Player of the Month. If we're going to go the distance, that's what's got to come."
You can listen to Young's entire interview below.