The San Francisco 49ers are entering the 2025 NFL season with big goals in mind. After not making the playoffs last season following a year that saw them make a run to the Super Bowl in 2023, the team is looking to prove that it is still a contender.

Christian McCaffrey missed most of last season. Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and missed a huge portion of the year as well. Other injuries wreaked havoc on the 49ers’ roster too.

On the outside looking in, San Francisco should be much improved simply by getting key players back on the field.

Speaking of McCaffrey, he started last season dealing with Achilles issues in both legs. He recovered from that to get back on the field, but suffered a knee injury after playing in just four games that ended his season prematurely.

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He has worked hard to get ready for the 2025 season. As of right now, he seems to be back to full health and ready to hit the ground running.

Back in the 2023 campaign with the 49ers, McCaffrey showed the kind of impact he can make. He carried the football 272 times for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also catching 67 passes for 564 yards and seven scores.

Heading into this year, expectations are high for McCaffrey.

ESPN recently did a poll to rank the top running backs in the NFL. When it came to San Francisco’s 29-year-old star, he was ranked No. 5 and one league executive offered a major red flag.

“He’s a great player, but he’s always had durability issues, even in college,” an NFL personnel executive said. “He’s an elite trainer and takes great care of himself. He’s just not a big body and will lose a step eventually.”

Throughout his NFL career to this point, McCaffrey has dealt with his fair share of injuries. He played 16 games in each of the first three years of his career, but then played in three, seven, and six games respectively the next three years.

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Of course, last season he only played in four games.

McCaffrey’s injuries have always been a talking point. When he is fully healthy, he’s one of the best weapons in the NFL. Unfortunately, injuries are a part of the game and a deciding factor in just how good a player actually can be.

Hopefully, the 49ers are able to keep McCaffrey healthy this season. If they can and he plays to his full ability, San Francisco could be a team to watch in the NFC.

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