Running back Jerick McKinnon joined the 49ers two years ago as a free agent who received a surprisingly rich contract after four years of largely part-time play in Minnesota. A knee injury prevented the 49ers from getting a return on their investment.
That comeback could come from 2020, based on what the 49ers have seen in practice so far this month.
“I think everyone knows how difficult it has been for him just emotionally and mentally,” coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Saturday of McKinnon, “but what he’s been doing this offseason as well, I think he spent most of his time in Houston and he spent a lot of time with [offensive lineman] Trent Williams over there. I think [receiver] Deebo [Samuel] was up there a bit, but these guys squeaked. They worked very hard.
“Jet has always been as tough on workers as there is, he came as prepared as anyone could be. My only worry about Jet is sometimes that he’s overdoing it because that’s how hard he works. The good thing for Jet is that we’ve been through this twice with him and when he came back last year with, trying to get it back and he would go out and try to work on it, you could tell it just didn’t heal well. and he had to start all over again. It’s still the first day, the first step, but you can tell it’s healed well and you can tell Jet to do this job and you feel everything he’s been through for the past two years. I feel like he’s finally in a position where he has a chance to have that comeback now and everyone is shooting for him. He’s as good as a guy on our team and he’s had a great first day of training.
McKinnon’s presence further diversifies a multi-headed racing attack that has grown into both a ballet and a bar fight. Shanahan has designed pieces that, when executed correctly, perform to perfection. Helping this process is the fact that the team has a bunch of thugs who will perform X’s and Bones in a way that will cause Bones to hit X’s on their asses.
When that happens, capable ball carriers break free to gain yards and score touchdowns. McKinnon now adds to that. If he’s healthy, he could end up being the best of the bunch.
