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San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey wasn’t satisfied with his performance during a 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
“I can be a lot better,” McCaffrey told reporters after the game. “Feel like I can be a lot better. To miss time with an injury is always tough, it’s not an excuse, but I know I can be a lot better. I feel it. It’s coming.”
The reigning Offensive Player of the Year couldn’t find the end zone against the Seahawks, rushing for 79 yards and averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
He also caught four of five targets for 27 yards.
McCaffrey missed San Francisco’s first eight games of the season due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis. The 49ers’ offense couldn’t find any consistency without him, owning a 4-4 record before he made his debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10.
While San Francisco was able to defeat Tampa Bay and McCaffrey made his presence felt as a receiver, he couldn’t do the same on the ground. He ran for just 39 yards on 13 attempts despite racking up six catches for 68 yards as an option in the pass game.
It may be too early to hit the panic button for McCaffrey given his Achilles issue, but it’s still been a relatively disappointing start compared to his stellar 2023 campaign. He racked up 2,023 all-purpose yards and 21 total touchdowns last season, operating as the offensive engine of a 49ers squad that made a Super Bowl LVIII appearance.
McCaffrey should be able to eventually get back on track, but San Francisco is hoping that it can happen sooner rather than later. The 49ers are currently in the midst of a close playoff race in the NFC West at 5-5.
The Arizona Cardinals own the top spot in the division with a 6-4 record while the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams also sit at 5-5.
McCaffrey will attempt to look like his former self in Week 12, as the 49ers travel to face a Green Bay Packers team allowing 113 yards per game on the ground.
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