Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is close to making his debut for the 2024 season after a lengthy recovery from Achilles tendonitis. His return could come as early as this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and anticipation is building among teammates, coaches and Fans are excited to see the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year back in action.

McCaffrey adds a dynamic element to the offense, contributing in both the running and passing games and forcing the defense to stay alert.

“Everything is going well with Christian (in the lineup),” offensive line coach and running game coordinator Chris Foerster told reporters Thursday. “I’m not kidding. Of course everything will be a little better with him.”

Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen remembers having to prepare for McCaffrey before working with the 49ers.

“He’s a big problem in the passing game,” Sorensen noted. “But he’s also just a great runner. He has a great overview. He’s not a guy you think is smaller and doesn’t push hard. He’s also really tough. The obvious thing is that he can do so many different things in the passing game.

In McCaffrey’s absence, younger defenders like Jordan Mason and freshman Isaac Guerendo have stepped up and gained valuable experience, deepening the team’s running back rotation. Learning from McCaffrey has only helped her development.

Foerster acknowledged that McCaffrey’s presence changes the 49ers’ game-planning options against opposing defenses. Still, the rise of other contributors has helped make up for his absence. The hope is that McCaffrey’s return will spark an inconsistent offense.

“It’s always good to have a great player back on the field working with you,” Foerster said. “And when he’s out there, he trains so hard and everything is right. That’s what you see when you see things like that.

Quarterback Brock Purdy is also happy to have one of his best offensive weapons back.

“It was great,” Purdy said. “Exactly what he brings and that really fires up everyone else, we all come out of the bye week feeling good and fresh. And then you have 23 next to you in the backfield, which was great. Looks great moving around, and it’s trending in the right direction. So we’re excited to see what happens.

Purdy also noted that McCaffrey’s presence draws the focus of opposing defenses and opens up options for other playmakers.

“But most importantly, we have really good playmakers across the board and we’re going to try to get the ball in the hands of all our guys at the right time and in the right situation,” Purdy added. “But it’s always nice to know I can go through my reading and come back to Christian.”

The 49ers have approached McCaffrey’s return cautiously, giving him time to fully recover to ensure he is available for the crucial final stretch of the season.

“It’s a process to prepare for the game,” explained Foerster. “Obviously decisions won’t be made until later in the week, but having him back, just being out there and training is really, really cool for the whole team. It gives everyone energy.”

Related news