3 bright spots from SF 49ers Week 1 loss to visiting Cardinals

No. 1: SF 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon is back

It’s been a long and difficult road back to the NFL ranks for veteran running back Jerick McKinnon who, despite being a prime free-agent target by the 49ers back in 2018, missed his first two seasons in San Francisco after suffering an ACL tear just before the regular season began that year.

And the injury kept him out of uniform for the subsequent two seasons.

Finally making his Niners debut in Week 1, McKinnon looked every part the offensive weapon Kyle Shanahan envisioned, finishing the game with three rushes for 24 yards and three catches for 20 yards.

Including one of two SF 49ers touchdowns on the day:

“It was really just a blessing to wake up this morning knowing I was going to get to play in a game finally,” McKinnon said after the game. “A lot of emotions — I woke up, shed a couple tears and took it all in. But God is good and I’m back.”

And he was rewarded with a touchdown as a result.

One might expect McKinnon to be featured much more in the offense moving forward, especially with some of the concerns the team has at wide receiver.

For now, however, McKinnon’s return went about as well as it could, aside from not being on the winning side.