Kyle Shanahan on McCaffrey's usage in 49ers offense: 'We have to protect Christian from himself'

The San Francisco 49ers handed running back Christian McCaffrey a new contract this offseason, an acknowledgment of his vital importance in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The Niners hope to get similar production out of the reigning Offensive Player of the Year without as much wear and tear.

Shanahan mentioned last month that he intends to distribute the carries more evenly than the previous season, aiming to shield CMC from minor injuries that could escalate into more serious ones.

“We have guys that can run the ball,” Shanahan said during offseason workouts, via The Athletic. “We have to protect Christian from himself. He doesn’t like to ever come out no matter what the situation is and I do think that’s something we could protect him with more. When you are such a threat in the pass game, it’s a little bit different. … But if he’s just taking the wear and tear with 20 carries and stuff every game — and he’s definitely good enough to do that and he has proved he can stay healthy — but you’d like to take some of that off of him and give it to other guys also.”

In 2023, McCaffrey had 272 carries in 16 games, ranking second highest in the NFL and tying his personal career high for a season. He averaged 17 carries per game, placing him fourth in the league. Including his 67 catches, the running back had a total of 339 touches last season.

Throughout his career, CMC has consistently demonstrated his capacity to accumulate touches without significantly reducing his output. However, as he ages, it’s logical for Shanahan to be somewhat more discerning with the 28-year-old back who has touched the ball 1,806 times in his career.

Last season, Elijah Mitchell had 75 carries in 11 games, and Jordan Mason took 40. The ability to siphon off carries from CMC could depend on whether Mitchell can stay healthier in 2024. Fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo could also push into the mix with a strong training camp and preseason.

Ultimately, it may be difficult for Shanahan to sideline his top player except in blowouts. However, comments made during this offseason might suggest a calculated attempt to be more intentional about San Francisco’s utilization of the star back in 2024.