Why Lynch thinks the 49ers’ best football lies ahead after a slow start originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The 2024 NFL season is far from over, but it’s already been a long road for the 49ers.
Heading into Week 9 with a 4-4 record and an injury-ravaged roster, San Francisco hopes to build momentum in the second half of the campaign ahead of a potential playoff run – and President of Football Operations/ team general manager John Lynch. I think it’s obvious.
“It’s tough,” Lynch told NBC’s Rodney Harrison on “Sunday Night Football” after the 49ers’ Week 8 win over the Dallas Cowboys. “Staying healthy is essential in this league, and it’s happened to many of our best players. Brandon Aiyuk last weekand Christian McCaffrey, we haven’t played with him yet. These guys are game changers, and it’s tough.
“But we’re proud of the team. We let go of a few wins that we had within our reach, so we would have liked to be a little bit better right now, but we’re still in this business and I know there’s better football ahead of us, and we just have to keep going, McCaffrey, we hope to bring him back here after this leave, and Dre Greenlaw, hopefully in the near future.
“So if you start getting these guys back, we’ll be a better football team.”
There’s certainly a lot to look forward to for the 49ers, especially McCaffrey’s return. The star running back and reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year has yet to play this season as he deals with bilateral Achilles tendonitisand his presence alone completely transformed San Francisco’s offense as both a pass catcher and running back.
McCaffrey potentially will have your training window open Next Monday, when the 49ers hold a bonus practice after five full days off. The team also expects wide receiver Jauan Jennings to return to practice after suffering a hip injury in Week 6. and Greenlaw could return of the ruptured Achilles he suffered during Super Bowl LVIII in the coming weeks.
But Aiyuk is out for the season after tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave will miss San Francisco’s remaining regular season games – at least – due to a triceps injury.
Not to mention the other waves of injuries hitting the 49ers week to week, but there is hope on the horizon and reinforcements on the way.
Sitting at .500 with a share of the NFC West lead, San Francisco can use all the help it can get.
