After falling behind early in their previous game, the San Francisco 49ers were forced to rely heavily on passing and ran the ball the least times in franchise history. However, they now have an opportunity to shift their approach when they face the New York Giants. The Giants have struggled to stop the run this season, allowing the most rushing yards in a single game in the NFL. Christian McCaffrey, who had his first game under 100 scrimmage yards since his injury-plagued 2024 season, could be a key factor in turning things around for the 49ers (5-3) on Sunday.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized the importance of running the ball, saying, “We’re challenging our guys to run the ball every week, and I hope we can do a better job this week.” McCaffrey, who leads the league with 56 receptions among running backs, has the second-most carries with 140. Despite the loss at Houston, where the team only rushed 10 times, McCaffrey remains optimistic about the team's ability to adapt and improve.
McCaffrey shared his mindset, stating, “Every day in this league is about getting better, having emotional stamina and mental stamina to withstand the duration of the year. That means when you win, you forget about it and move on, and when you lose, you correct mistakes and move on.”
The Giants (2-6), who allowed 276 rushing yards to the Philadelphia Eagles, including a 65-yard touchdown by Saquon Barkley, are aware that McCaffrey presents a unique challenge. Coach Brian Daboll acknowledged, “He’s a dynamic player. I’m sure they’ll look at a lot of things that have happened over the last couple weeks in terms of running the ball or matchup-wise with him. They do it with everybody, but he can align as a receiver, a running back. He’s a very talented player.”
Moving forward after Skattebo's injury
The optimism surrounding the Giants’ rookie class, led by Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo, was shaken when Skattebo suffered a broken fibula during a game against the Eagles. He underwent surgery hours later to repair the injury. Offensive lineman Greg Van Roten expressed the impact of losing Skattebo, saying, “A lot of production goes through him, so you’re going to miss him a lot. Then just for him personally, you feel really bad for the guy because you know how much work he’s put in to put himself in a position to make it in the NFL and establish himself as a starter. Then you just have one snap where you get hurt, and you just know it’s a long road to recovery and you feel for the guy.”
Tyrone Tracy is expected to take on a larger role as the feature back, while Devin Singletary will serve as a change of pace option.
Some pass-rushing help
The 49ers have struggled to generate a pass rush since Nick Bosa went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3. Over the past six games, they’ve managed only five sacks. Injuries to Bryce Huff and Yetur Gross-Matos further hampered their efforts, prompting the team to acquire Keion White from New England in a trade. White is expected to contribute immediately and is viewed as a potential solution to the team’s pass-rush issues.
“We need D-linemen with all our guys injured,” Shanahan said. “Regardless, he would have helped any team. I thought he was a problem when we played against him last year. Really liked what he does on film, too.”
Dart gets another chance to show what he can do
In the wake of Skattebo’s injury, Jaxson Dart took on more responsibility to compensate for the loss of another key player. Malik Nabers, the top receiver, underwent surgery to repair an ACL tear sustained during Dart’s first pro start. Despite these challenges, Dart has made an impression, throwing for eight touchdowns and running for four more, while also recording three interceptions.
“I’ve been really impressed with him,” Shanahan said. “He’s got a very good knack for off-schedule plays, attacking while scrambling. If you drop any of your players in coverage, he finds them. His vision is pretty elite when it comes to seeing holes in the defense when he gets outside that pocket.”
Jennings getting healthier
The 49ers have seen limited production from their wide receivers, with Brandon Aiyuk still sidelined by a knee injury from last season, Ricky Pearsall missing the past four games, and Jauan Jennings dealing with a series of injuries. Jennings, entering a contract year, aimed to build on last season’s career-best 975 yards receiving but has only recorded 18 catches for 212 yards this season. However, he showed signs of improvement in the last game, with four catches for 45 yards, including a 25-yard reception that set up a touchdown.
“Jauan has been really hurt all year,” Shanahan said. “He’s getting better. I think last week was a step in the right direction, but hopefully, he’ll be better this week. Jauan has been compromised on a lot of things.”
San Francisco will continue to start Mac Jones at quarterback for a fifth straight game, but Brock Purdy may be available as a backup as he works to return from a toe injury.