SF 49ers: 3 reasons Jerick McKinnon breaks out in 2020

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Jerick McKinnon #28 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

After losing two seasons due to injury, SF 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon is ready to break out.

It’s been a rough two seasons for SF 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon. He was acquired by the team in 2018 and missed that whole season due to a torn ACL. Then in 2019, he was supposed to have a joint return with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo who was also returning from a torn ACL.

A setback with his knee, however, kept McKinnon out of the 2019 season as well. One can only imagine how rough it must’ve been watching not only his team have an ultra-successful year, but also watching his stablemates from the running back group have an amazing year, all from the sidelines.

McKinnon was signed by the Niners as a free agent in 2018, after playing for four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2017 he ran for 570 yards as the No. 2 running back.

Although he wasn’t the lead back in Minnesota, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan saw enough key characteristics he liked in McKinnon to bring him to the Bay Area. Shanahan has a knack for taking his players on offense and scheming plays that use them to their best abilities.

So don’t be surprised to see some plays specifically drawn up to play to McKinnon’s skill sets.

McKinnon has been patiently waiting to be a part of the SF 49ers offense for two seasons. He has been working obsessively behind the scenes to rehab back from injury.

So let’s take a look at three reasons that he will be an integral part of the offense and have his breakout year in 2020.