Stop if you've heard this before: the San Francisco 49ers are in a tough spot at running back.
With the Niners being shorthanded at the position yet again, in Week 15, there are those who are starting to look ahead. Whether or not the 49ers make the postseason, this year, the common theme at the running back position is something that's been a growing frustration.
In his latest column, ESPN NFL analyst Bill Barnwell included the 49ers as one of his prioritized topics and, specifically, wrote that the Niners need to "prepare for life without Christian McCaffrey."
The explanation is plain to see, with McCaffrey now being out for the season and enduring yet another tough stretch due to injury. It's been a common theme over his career. When healthy, McCaffrey is arguably the best dual-threat running back in the game. But, the Niners have rarely been able to count on that health.
He did hint at the Niners moving on from McCaffrey over the 2025 offseason, but also explained that it would be highly unlikely due to the fact that the team would still owe him $8.5 of his roster bonus next season.
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For that reason, he made the obvious point of San Francisco assuming he's on the team next year while also seriously preparing for a future without him. Sadly, Barnwell is indeed alluding to the idea that McCaffrey could again struggle with his health.
"Even if we assume McCaffrey is still on the roster in 2025, the 49ers have to be realistic about their expectations," Barnwell noted. "Three of his past five seasons have been significantly impacted by injuries, with the 28-year-old limited to three games in 2020, seven in 2021 and four this season."
Barnwell stating the Niners' need to truly prepare for a life without McCaffrey is not shocking by any means. But, it does bring up the point that, under Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco has already done a consistent job of finding running back depth. So, they shouldn't have a problem preparing for life without CMC.
Isaac Guerendo the most recent proof of the 49ers' double-edged sword at running back
Ironically enough, McCaffrey is only one example of many Niners running backs who have struggled with health over the years. Some fans might start to believe there is something in the water, because this team has rarely been able to count on a running back for multiple years, let alone just one entire season, at least for the past several campaigns.
Whether we're talking about McCaffrey, Jordan Mason, Elijah Mitchell, or even most recently, Isaac Guerendo, the Niners are used to banged-up running backs. It's a sad reality, but true.
We can even go back in past years and look at players like Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Tevin Coleman, Tyrion Davis-Price, Jamycal Hasty, among others. This team has been a plug-and-play situation for running backs since Shanahan took over, and unfortunately, it's what this organization has become familiar with.
As difficult as it is to see so many running backs hurt over the years, it's also a testament to Shanahan and this organization being able to find and utilize talent at the position. Even the recent injury to Guerendo caused us to wonder whether the team would be starting yet another new face in Patrick Taylor on Thursday Night Football.
The running back struggles don't appear to be ending any time soon. Hopefully, they do at some point. But, having Shanahan at the helm certainly helps ease the pain of constant shifting and loss.