San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan chose his words carefully on Thursday when asked about running back Christian McCaffrey. He noted that McCaffrey is healthy following an injury-plagued 2024 season. Of course, it's still May, and with organized team activities (OTAs) just beginning, the more extensive evaluations won't happen until training camp in a couple of months.
McCaffrey appeared in only four games last season, opening the year on injured reserve with Achilles tendinitis and ending it the same way due to a knee injury. Now, the All-Pro back looks poised to put that disappointing campaign behind him and attack the 2025 season with renewed energy.
"Christian, he's as ready as any player I've ever been around," Shanahan said. "When he gets hurt, he's got to rehab and get better. Right now, he's as healthy as can be. We've got to kind of protect him from himself, but Christian has a good idea of what he needs to do right now.
"He's doing a lot less than he normally would do, but I know he's excited on how healthy he feels, and the fact that he can get out there."
General manager John Lynch echoed Shanahan's optimism during an appearance on Bay Area radio station KNBR on Friday morning. He shared his impressions of McCaffrey during offseason workouts.
"I stand back there, where I used to stand—just about 30 yards deeper—and it looks really good to me," Lynch said. "That's what I'll tell you. He looks bouncy; he looks explosive. Christian likes the work. As talented as he is, he's a feel player, and he likes to work, and he's put in the work.
"Believe me, he's as intense a competitor as I've ever been around. He's maniacal in his approach."
Lynch said McCaffrey is motivated to prove last season was a fluke. The running back aims to show he's still the same game-changing player the 49ers traded for three years ago, especially with the team coming off a disappointing 6-11 season.
"[He's] not happy with what happened with our team, what happened with himself," Lynch added. "And I can tell you this: he's put in the work. He's looking great out here. Kyle said it yesterday—the biggest thing with Christian, sometimes we have to pull back the reins, and that's what you want to have to do.
"My old coach, Mike Tomlin (DB coach with Buccaneers from 2001-05), used to say, 'It's a lot easier and better to have to say, Whoa, than it is to have to say, Sic 'em.' And you never have to say 'Sic 'em' to Christian. He's raring and ready to go, and at times, you have to say, 'Whoa.'
"But he looks great out here and he's extremely motivated to have a Christian McCaffrey-type year."
Reporters will only be able to observe two of the 10 allowed days of OTA practices, resulting in a limited sample size. As such, any evaluations—positive or negative—of specific players during these sessions are likely premature. It's best to wait until training camp, when real preparations begin, to draw meaningful conclusions.