49ers' Juszczyk Says 'Incredible' Christian McCaffrey Looks 'Healthy' and 'Explosive'

Kyle Juszczyk expressed strong admiration for Christian McCaffrey's performance during the San Francisco 49ers' offseason activities, telling The Athletic that McCaffrey appears "healthy" and "explosive" following a challenging 2024 season. Juszczyk emphasized McCaffrey's elite status, calling him "arguably the best player in the NFL" and noting his transformative impact on the team.

McCaffrey's 2024 season was derailed by injuries, beginning with a calf strain in training camp that sidelined him for the first eight weeks. After returning in Week 10, he recorded over 100 scrimmage yards in his first two games but lacked his characteristic explosiveness from his 2023 Offensive Player of the Year campaign. His season ended prematurely in Week 13 with a PCL injury against the Buffalo Bills. NFL Next Gen Stats revealed his max speeds during those games—ranging from 16.1 to 17.4 mph—were notably slower than his 2023 benchmarks, with 17.4 mph ranking among his fifth-worst performances that year.

Teammates and coaches have echoed Juszczyk's positive assessment after McCaffrey's full offseason recovery. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak described him as "awesome" during June minicamp, while head coach Kyle Shanahan stated in May that McCaffrey is "as ready as any player" and "healthy as can be," though the team aims to manage his workload carefully.

With significant defensive roster changes this offseason, the 49ers' offense—featuring Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Trent Williams, and others—faces pressure to perform while new defenders acclimate. Brandon Aiyuk's availability is uncertain due to ACL/MCL recovery, but the unit retains a strong foundation.

McCaffrey's health remains pivotal to San Francisco's success. The team fielded one of the NFL's most historically efficient offenses in 2023 when he led the league with 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns. If he approaches that form again, the 49ers are poised to be NFC playoff contenders.