Christian McCaffrey, the Late Bye Week, and the 49ers' Final Push
SANTA CLARA - Christian McCaffrey has been on a tear this season, and if you ask him about it, he’ll give you the classic one-game-at-a-time response - literally, three times in a row. But behind that laser focus is a player very aware of what’s ahead and what this 49ers team is gearing up for.
Coming off their Week 14 bye - the latest possible in the NFL calendar - McCaffrey sounded refreshed, both physically and mentally. And that’s saying something for a guy who’s already logged 322 touches through 13 games.
“When you look at the bye early in the year, you’re kind of dreading it,” McCaffrey said. “You know you got to play 13 straight or whatever it is. But now that it’s done and it’s happened at the end of the year and we’re getting some guys back and getting healthy again, it’s a blessing in disguise.”
McCaffrey’s not just talking - he’s living it. The All-Pro back is on pace for a rare 1,000/1,000 season, and with five more receptions, he’ll become the first running back in NFL history with at least 90 catches in three separate seasons. That’s not just versatility - that’s rewriting the expectations for the position.
His bye week highlight? Time with his five-month-old daughter, Colette.
But make no mistake, rest and recovery were front and center too. And with the playoffs looming, that downtime could prove crucial.
Right guard Dominick Puni echoed the sentiment, saying he’d take a late-season bye every year if he could.
“It gives you something to look forward to at the end of the year,” Puni said. “And then after this, it’s only a four-game stretch to push into the playoffs.”
Playoff Picture and Shanahan’s No-Nonsense Approach
At 9-4, the 49ers are currently sitting in the No. 6 spot in the NFC playoff race, but the door to the No. 1 seed is still cracked open. Just don’t expect head coach Kyle Shanahan to get caught up in the what-ifs.
“Everyone tries to with me and then I usually snap at them,” Shanahan said, half-joking. “You can just as easily lose four games in a row as win four games in a row. I mean, four games are a long ways away, and there are a lot of things that can happen.”
That’s classic Shanahan - focused, grounded, and not interested in hypotheticals. He did, however, enjoy the rare opportunity to be a fan over the weekend, watching games on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
As for the team’s strong track record coming off the bye - Shanahan is 5-1 in the last six years in those situations - he doesn’t chalk it up to some secret formula.
“Not that I know of,” he said. “We don’t do anything differently.
I know some people have good records, some people have bad records, but I think most of that’s just a coincidence. I think we practice hard, we play hard.”
The key, according to Shanahan, is balancing recovery with the need to shake off the rust: “You want to keep that freshness and feeling better, but still get at least two hard days of practice in.”
Injury Updates and Reinforcements on the Horizon
Injuries have been a storyline all season, and the 49ers are still navigating a few. Linebacker Tatum Bethune and defensive end Sam Okuayinonu remain sidelined with ankle issues. But there’s good news elsewhere: kicker Eddy Pineiro returned to practice after missing two games with a hamstring injury, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (ribs) was a limited participant on Wednesday.
Defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos, who’s been out for two months with a hamstring injury, is set to have his practice window opened Thursday. That’s a potential boost for a pass rush that could use some fresh legs.
Scouting the Opponent: Rookie QB Cam Ward
Next up is a team that’s had a rough go of it - just two wins on the season - but they’ll come in with rookie quarterback Cam Ward under center. Ward’s numbers won’t blow you away - 59% completion rate, 2,468 yards, nine touchdowns, seven picks in 13 starts - but context matters.
He’s faced six of the league’s top ten defenses and managed to stay upright despite limited weapons and midseason coaching turmoil.
“You can see why he was the first pick in the draft,” Shanahan said. “He throws like a top quarterback.
He can make every throw on the field. I think when number one is open, he’s extremely accurate at hitting him.
You see the ability.”
That’s not lip service. Shanahan knows what a dangerous young quarterback can do - especially one with nothing to lose and something to prove.
The Philip Rivers What-If
And then there’s the story that almost was. With the Colts reportedly eyeing a return for 44-year-old Philip Rivers, Shanahan was reminded of a similar situation just three years ago.
Back in December 2022, after Jimmy Garoppolo broke his foot, Shanahan made the call to Rivers. At the time, the 49ers were down to rookie Brock Purdy and no real backup plan. Rivers, already retired, started studying the offense just in case.
“We didn’t have anyone after (Purdy) at the time,” Shanahan said. “So that was when Philip started getting ready for the possibility to come here, and he would’ve if Brock ever got hurt.”
Purdy, of course, led the 49ers all the way to the NFC Championship before suffering his own injury. Had the 49ers pulled off a comeback against the Eagles, Rivers might’ve suited up in the Super Bowl. Garoppolo even delayed surgery in hopes of making a return.
Shanahan, reflecting on Rivers’ career, didn’t hold back praise.
“When he played, he was one of the best quarterbacks of all time,” he said. “As you get older, I think mobility leaves big time, but arm strength doesn’t always. And when you have guys that are at an elite level who will play in the pocket and have the size to hang in there and still have arm strength to make the throws that you need to make - I would say he’s one of the few who would have a chance to do this.”
What’s Next
With four games left and a playoff berth in reach, the 49ers are entering the stretch run in better shape than most. They’ve got their MVP-caliber back rested, key players returning from injury, and a coaching staff that knows how to navigate December football.
The road ahead isn’t easy - it never is - but if they can stay healthy and execute, this team has the firepower to make a serious run. One game at a time, sure. But don’t be surprised if those games lead to something much bigger.