Follow us on Bluesky →
placeholder image

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports


John Lynch: 49ers preparing to ramp up workloads for Christian McCaffrey, Ricky Pearsall

Sep 27, 2024 at 9:01 AM

Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.

The San Francisco 49ers are eager to increase Christian McCaffrey's workload to assess his recovery from Achilles tendinitis. On Thursday, head coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned that the team hopes to have a clearer picture of the star running back's status in the next couple of weeks.

"And now, we'll probably turn it up here in the next couple of weeks," Shanahan said. "I know he still has at least two more weeks before we could have an option to play him, and we'll start testing that out sooner than later."

General manager John Lynch, in his weekly interview with KNBR on Friday morning, shared more details about McCaffrey's status. McCaffrey recently traveled to Germany to consult a specialist regarding the Achilles tendinitis that has sidelined him this season.

"I think the bottom line, once we put him to injured reserve, I think that was to kind of force a discipline for everyone that, when you have tendinitis, that basically is inflammation, and it was flared up, bilateral Achilles tendinitis," Lynch said. "And so, we needed to quiet it down. So the plan was to give it the time to do that and then, at some point, in a thoughtful way, to ramp him back up.

"So what he does early and where he goes, he's got people who work on his body and have for a long time. We work in consult with him on that. And now, Christian's back here, and at some point, we'll get [him] back. We'll have to hit certain markers, and we'll try the ramp-up. And, God willing, the thing has quieted down, and we can build him back up in a really smart and thoughtful way."

Lynch emphasized McCaffrey's value to the team, saying, "Of course, we want him back. He's a game-changer for us. But we want him back healthy, and so we'll take the necessary time for that. How much it takes, I don't think anyone knows right now."

Based on his progress, the plan is to gradually ramp up McCaffrey's workload once he's eligible to practice ahead of Week 6's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers are optimistic that the Achilles tendinitis has quieted down enough to begin that process on schedule.

Ricky Pearsall progressing well

Lynch also provided an update on rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt in San Francisco on August 31. Pearsall has made significant strides in his recovery and is working toward his NFL debut.

Currently on the non-football injury (NFI) list, Pearsall will be eligible to begin practicing again after Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

"All signs are indicating that he'll be okay to do that," Lynch said. "So, we'll see. We'll kind of judge him throughout this weekend. He'll have some more markers to hit, but getting him back in practice would be a big deal. And then you've got a couple of weeks to work with, where you can activate him or just leave him practicing. I think we can kind of assess that as it comes.

"But Ricky's doing really well. He's put in the work. He's very eager to get back out there, but it's our job to make sure he's ready when he gets back. But he'll be a great addition. We drafted him for a reason. We're really excited about possibly getting him back sometime in the near future, and he's trending in a really good direction."

The 49ers selected Pearsall out of Florida with the 31st overall pick in this year's draft.

You can listen to Lynch's entire interview below.

Related News

Enjoy this article? Follow us to never miss more!

Powered by Follow.it


Comments

More San Francisco 49ers News

placeholder image

49ers' Ricky Pearsall reveals 2 reasons he's excited about Christian McCaffrey's return

By David Bonilla
Nov 11

Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has only played in three games since his own return from injury, but he's thrilled to have star running back Christian McCaffrey back in the San Francisco 49ers' offense. While McCaffrey, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, adds...


placeholder image

John Lynch: Ricky Pearsall emerging as player the 49ers envisioned on draft day

By David Bonilla
5 hrs

Ricky Pearsall's NFL journey has been anything but ordinary. The rookie wide receiver, drafted in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers, endured a life-altering setback before even taking the field. On August 31, Pearsall was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt,...


placeholder image

John Lynch on roles for Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo following Christian McCaffrey's return to 49ers

By David Bonilla
Nov 8

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is set to make his season debut on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after battling Achilles tendinitis. This week, McCaffrey returned to practice looking as sharp as ever. Jordan Mason and rookie Isaac Guerendo have...


placeholder image

49ers GM John Lynch excited for Christian McCaffrey's imminent return

By David Bonilla
Nov 8

On Thursday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed optimism that star running back Christian McCaffrey would be back on the field this Sunday when the team faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. "You never know for a setback or anything, but...


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone