The San Francisco 49ers had a tough time with injuries last season. Their star running back, Christian McCaffrey, appeared in only four games in 2024, having won the Offensive Player of the Year award the previous season. The 49ers’ offense needs McCaffrey on the field to reach its full potential.
While McCaffrey has joined the OTAs and is back to full health, a clip of his practice has been making the rounds on the internet, in which the running back looks relatively out of shape. However, the criticism directed towards McCaffrey didn’t sit well with former cornerback Antonio Cromartie.
Antonio Cromartie Tears Into Christian McCaffrey’s Critics After 49ers RB’s Clip Goes Viral
McCaffrey missed most of last season with multiple leg injuries, and returning to practice after such a long time makes it understandable that his runs won’t be as perfect as they were. However, one journalist argued that the 28-year-old had lost his burst and may not be able to get through the entire season.
“Many are talking about the concerns of how Christian McCaffrey looked today in videos,” they wrote. “You can clearly tell he’s lost some burst, and shows the lateral agility of Cam Skattebo. I don’t know how he’ll make it through this season.”
Many are talking about the concerns of how Christian McCaffrey looked today in videos.
You can clearly tell he’s lost some burst, and shows the lateral agility of Cam Skattebo. I don’t know how he’ll make it through this season. pic.twitter.com/j5zszI7Q6a— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) May 29, 2025
Cromartie, a four-time Pro Bowler, couldn’t help but vent his frustration over unnecessary criticism.
“Yall sound like some idiots,” he wrote. “It’s the offseason. What will he look like in camp and thr 1st week. Coming off injury you have to work yourself back in. Anything for clicks bait.”
Yall sound like some idiots. It’s the offseason. What will he look like in camp and thr 1st week. Coming off injury you have to work yourself back in. Anything for clicks bait
— COACH ANTONIO CROMARTIE (@CRO31) May 30, 2025
McCaffrey has always been one of the best in the league, but injuries have derailed a few of his seasons. This was his third season playing fewer than seven games in a season. For someone who has only played eight seasons, McCaffrey’s injury history can be worrying. But right now, he’s healthy and looking poised to get back to his best in 2025.
McCaffrey will have his eyes set on replicating his 2023 season, where he tallied 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns. His career year was a huge reason why the 49ers went to the Super Bowl, and his absence was felt as they missed the playoffs last season.
The 49ers need McCaffrey, among others, if they want to get back to the top of the NFC. As one of the better playcallers in the NFL, a weapon like McCaffrey is transformative to an offense. His ability to be dangerous as both a runner and a pass-catcher is what makes him so special and why he means so much to the 49ers. But the first step in making it back to the pinnacle is keeping McCaffrey healthy, and his running will eventually get better as the regular season closes in.
