49ers' Christian McCaffrey talks about his injury and recovery

Jerry McDonald, Bay Area News Group on Nov 8, 2024

Published in Football

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Christian McCaffrey took a few minutes to address reporters Friday for the first time since Sept. 12, which was the last time he spoke publicly before going on injured reserve for Achilles’ tendinitis in both feet.

A transcription of what McCaffrey had to say the 49ers (4-4) departed to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) Sunday:

— Q: Can you take us through the Germany trip?

— McCaffrey: I keep all that stuff private. When you’re on I.R. and you’re hurt, you’ll do anything to come back. I’m feeling good now and that’s all that matters.

— Q: It was said that rest was an important component to your recovery. Would you agree with that?

— McCaffrey: I wish it was that easy. It’s a combination of a lot of things that go into it. Our staff did an amazing job. The last eight weeks were extremely unfortunate for me. It’s very tough being injured. It’s tough physically, mentally, emotionally. Especially when it’s not how you planned it and it wasn’t expected and some stuff just went wrong, but I’m feeling great now and I’m ready to go.

— Q: How did you get through that time?

— McCaffrey: One day at a time. You’ve just got to trust in God and just take it one day at a time. It can be dark sometimes, especially when it’s something like that and you feel like it’s ... having to watch games, you’re physically in pain. Trying so hard not to let stuff like that happen and a lot goes into it. I think about football pretty much every day of my life. It consumes about 98 percent of my life. So when it doesn’t go right, it can be very tough. All I know is it makes you realizes how blessed and fortunate you are when you are on that field, so I’m happy to be back.

— Q: Kyle Shanahan said going on I.R. kind of took the pressure off in terms of giving it some time. Was it the same for you?

— McCaffrey: I can say this — from John (Lynch) to Kyle, to Jed (York) and the whole training staff, the way that they treated everything and the way that they went about it was amazing. Sometimes you need people in your corner that can look after you and maybe they know what’s best for you when there are times when you want to suck it up and do something that might be risky. They handled it, and the training staff and the strength staff, I’m really fortunate.

— Q: What was your mindset getting back on the field for practice?

— McCaffrey: Ah, just a lot of gratitude. Sometimes you take it for granted that you play this game for a living. It’s what you do, it’s what you train for, but when it’s taken from you, even for just a little bit of time, it makes you appreciate every single day you’re on the grass.

— Q: Were you able to stay in the meeting room and was it gratifying to see what Jordan (Mason) and Isaac (Guerendo) were able to do?

— McCaffrey: I stayed as much as I could. When you’re on I.R., there’s no need to. Well, there is a need to, but pretty much every hour of the day is devoted to getting healthy and not necessarily in the meetings. It’s a lot of treatment, a lot of prehab stuff, rehab, training, etc. Sleep, rest, you name it. But it was amazing to see what those guys have done and will continue to do. We have such an amazing room, I’ll put our guys up against anybody’s. To see what those guys have done is no shock when you’ve got a guy like Bobby Turner as your coach. There’s a standard in that room and the guys did a hell of a job and will continue to do a hell of a job.

— Q: Is there anything you have to train about your pregame routine because of these injuries?

— McCaffrey: I’ve changed a good amount, yeah. A lot of people have asked me, `What do you do for training?’ And I’m done answering. I’m figuring it out every day. All I know is I’ve got a good routine right now and I feel good, and that’s all that matters.

— Q: What level of confidence do you have that you’re done with these Achilles issues?

— McCaffrey: I feel good now. I wouldn’t be out here if it was still bothering me. I feel great.

— Q: What do you feel about the positioning of this team right now at 4-4 with nine games left in the regular season?

— McCaffrey: I feel great. I love where our attitude is at. You can feel the energy in practice and in the meeting room. Hungry, with our backs against the wall is right where we want to be.