San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has faced significant setbacks this season. After missing the first eight games due to Achilles tendinitis, McCaffrey returned to start four games, only to be sidelined again with a PCL injury.
While rookie Isaac Guerendo is set to take over as the featured back, McCaffrey's presence continues to make a meaningful impact, particularly on the younger players in the running back room. His career accomplishments command respect.
"People come in, and they know Christian because he's been an [NFL Offensive Player of the Year], and being on so many commercials, and just being Christian McCaffrey," head coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday on Bay Area radio station KNBR. "They know him, and who knows what they're opinion of him is before they meet him?
"But the coolest thing about Christian is when people get around him, and you get to really see why [he's so great]. Christian will talk to anyone. He'll lead by talking if you need it. But he's the best 'leader by example' that there is [with] how committed he is to everything, how hard he works."
McCaffrey struggled to regain his form after his initial return but appeared poised for a breakout performance against the Buffalo Bills before suffering his latest setback.
"Our whole team knew how ready he was for that Buffalo game," Shanahan shared. "You could just see what he did in practice, what he did in walkthrough, just over there in Buffalo on Saturday. His attention to detail in every little thing in the meetings, to his routes, to the runs, to the protections.
"He comes to work every day like he's the last guy on the roster, scared to get cut. And when you know he's such a big-time player, and you see the standard that he kind of works at, it's the best thing you can have [as] a coach because how can a rookie come in and know how great he is, and not feel like he needs to work the same?"
Confidence in Guerendo
Shanahan expressed confidence in Guerendo's ability to step up in place of McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, who suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Bills.
Guerendo has shown flashes of promise in limited action and has grown throughout his rookie campaign. The head coach caught a glimpse of his potential filling in for Mason earlier in the season.
"When Mason got hurt, I believe for Seattle, he's come in and done a real good job," Shanahan explained. "So, just having an opportunity like that, he's got a feel for it this year. I think he's gotten better as this year's gone, and now, this is a hell of an opportunity for him."
Shanahan added that he believes all his running backs can play like starters. This week, Guerendo credited the team's running backs coach, Bobby Turner, for preparing all players in the position group to be ready when called upon.
"I always give credit to Coach T, just preparing everybody like they're gonna be the starters," Guerendo said. "So, that way, when moments like that do come up, I'm ready for it."
The 49ers are no strangers to shuffling through running backs due to injuries, and Shanahan believes Guerendo can rise to the occasion.
"And now, we are down to our fourth back with Elijah going on IR to start the season, out in training camp," Shanahan said. "And so, now, he's going to get his opportunity, and I believe he can run like a starting back. That's what I expect from him. He's done it in the times that he's gotten it this year, and he's going to have five games to do this.
"I think he'll get better as he goes. And hopefully, this can be something he really takes advantage of and leads him into being a better player next year for us also."
You can listen to Shanahan's entire interview below.