Isaac Guerendo is navigating his first NFL season, and though the San Francisco 49ers rookie running back has only logged 37 carries for 227 yards through eight games, he boasts an impressive 6.1 yards per carry, thanks to some big runs. His 6.1-yard average leads all rookie running backs with more than 15 carries.
This week, the 49ers' backfield got a boost as the team opened the practice window for Christian McCaffrey, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year. There's a strong chance McCaffrey could suit up for Sunday's road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Despite being sidelined all season due to Achilles tendinitis, McCaffrey has been a great mentor to Guerendo, who has been eager to soak up knowledge from the veteran star.
"It's been great. I'm excited for him to be back," Guerendo told reporters on Monday. "I know he's excited to be back. You know how hard he's been working, so I'm excited for it."
Guerendo's opportunities may decrease once McCaffrey returns to his usual workload. Still, the rookie praised the coaching staff for keeping the running backs ready for whenever their numbers are called—a preparedness that has allowed younger players to step up all season.
When it comes to learning from McCaffrey, Guerendo identified a key area he hopes to improve.
"Definitely, I would say change of direction," Guerendo noted. "The efficiency in and out of cuts that he has is probably like [no one] else. So just continuing to develop that for myself, I'm excited to get to do it, and I think being able to watch him do that more and stuff at practice, it'll definitely motivate me."
Though McCaffrey hasn't been able to contribute on the field, his presence has been invaluable as a mentor to Guerendo and other young players working to find their footing in the NFL. However, it's not just McCaffrey who has provided that valuable guidance.
"He's been a great help, even when he's been [sidelined]," Guerendo explained. "Being able to still ask him questions and stuff like that has been very helpful. But when you talk about mentorship, just in general, this whole team has been great. I've got guys on the defensive side of the ball who are helping me, whether it's off-the-field stuff or on.
"So, I think that's been exciting. It's such a positive environment here, and I think that's what makes this team so special."