For the second year in a row, the San Francisco 49ers are dealing with injuries to multiple key players. It is particularly true on offense, where wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will continue to be out due to the knee injury he suffered last year and wideout Jauan Jennings could miss Week 1 because of a calf ailment. Offensive tackle Dominick Puni injured his knee during the preseason and may not be available when the regular season starts.
This all means that San Francisco will have to lean on star running back Christian McCaffrey, new running back Brian Robinson Jr., veteran tight end George Kittle and second-year WR Ricky Pearsall.
One analyst -- podcaster John Middlekauff -- feels McCaffrey and Kittle will have big seasons.
"I still think their offense is going to be OK," Middlekauff said. "But if you tell me those guys are healthy this season -- Kittle, I feel pretty good about. But McCaffrey, I just don't see how both of them don't have massive seasons."
Middlekauff also sounded bullish on Pearsall, as he called the wideout a "beast."
Read more: Brian Robinson Jr. Makes Bold Statement About 49ers' RB Room
Since arriving in a trade midway through the 2022 season, McCaffrey has been the Niners' main workhorse on offense. In 2023, he led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards and 2,023 total yards from scrimmage, and he was tied for the most total touchdowns with 21. That production earned him the Offensive Player of the Year award and resulted in him finishing third in the MVP balloting.
But he has been injury-prone throughout his career, and at age 29, the team has to think about lessening his workload and extending his career. That may have been the thinking behind acquiring Robinson days ago from the Washington Commanders.
Obviously, opponents load up on McCaffrey, knowing how much of a threat he is and knowing the Niners haven't had a Pro Bowl wide receiver since Deebo Samuel in 2021. If Pearsall, who logged 31 catches, 400 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games last year, breaks out, opposing linebackers and defensive backs will have to worry about him, which could open up the middle of the field near the line of scrimmage a little more for McCaffrey.
Pearsall had to overcome an armed robbery attempt late last summer to simply be able to play last year as a rookie. He showed good chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy during the preseason this month, and against the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 16, he caught three passes and ended up with 42 yards.
Kittle can always be depended on to produce. The 31-year-old had his fourth 1,000-yard season in 2024 and scored eight touchdowns while making the Pro Bowl for the sixth time. His 78 receptions last season was his highest output in that category since 2019.
One thing that has always made San Francisco deadly during the Kyle Shanahan era is its wealth of offensive options. If the injury bug finally leaves the Bay Area anytime soon, the team should have a real shot at making the playoffs, especially if its young prospects such as Pearsall pan out enough.
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