Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
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Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers warms-up before Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers have been dealt more than their fair share of injury problems over the last couple of years. Players like Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Fred Warner have all been forced out of game action for extended periods.
McCaffrey’s injury trouble came two years ago during the 2024 season. He dealt with multiple problems and only played in four games.
Last season, the 29-year-old superstar running back was able to play a full season. He appeared in all 17 regular season games and carried the football 311 times for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also catching 102 passes for 924 yards and seven more scores.
With that being said, keeping McCaffrey fresh and healthy will be a priority this season. The 49ers could use another quality running back to give them stretches of rest for McCaffrey.
49ers Urged to Target “Perfect” Running Back Fit Behind McCaffrey
Nick San Miguel of Niners Noise has come up with a top-tier suggestion for San Francisco. He thinks that veteran running back Austin Ekeler would be the right free agent to target.
“He will probably be pretty cheap, given his injury history and age, so maybe the Niners can snag him and use him in the backfield to see if he can at least keep the other side honest when McCaffrey isn’t on the field,” San Miguel wrote.
Making the move to sign Ekeler would come with some risk. He is fresh off of an Achilles tear last season with the Washington Commanders. There is no telling how he will recover from that injury.
For a running back who has relied on speed and burst, the Achilles could be problematic. However, he would be worth taking a flier on if the price is right.
What Would Austin Ekeler Bring to the San Francisco Offense?
Last season in just two games, Ekeler carried the ball 14 times for 43 yards and caught five passes for 38 yards.
Back in the 2024 season with the Commanders, he played in 12 games and racked up 367 yards and four touchdowns on 77 carries. He also caught 35 passes for 366 yards.
Ekeler would be a perfect backup for McCaffrey. He brings the same kind of dual-threat ability, which would allow the 49ers’ offense to continue running as normal. On a one-year deal, he would be well worth John Lynch and the San Francisco front office rolling the dice on.
Expect to see the 49ers add another running back either in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft. Ekeler is a name to keep an eye on as the offseason progresses.