6x Pro Bowler accuses 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan, GM John Lynch of complacency as Christian McCaffrey's injury dents playoff chances
When it comes to the NFL, if you aren't being talked about, you aren't doing something right. Unfortunately for the San Francisco 49ers, they have been talked about all year, usually for all the wrong reasons. It started with Brandon Aiyuk's holdout where he nearly got traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers before eventually signing a four-year, $120 million extension.
Since then, however, good news has been few and far between. Christian McCaffrey missed most of the season before returning for four games in November. He picked up a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury in the primetime loss to the Bills, effectively ending his season. Between all of this, the Niners are now struggling to make the playoffs but retired six-time Pro Bowler LeSean McCoy doesn't believe it's all down to injuries.
On Tuesday's episode of "The Facility" on FS1, McCoy made his feelings known about head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch's workings in the offseason.
“A lot of injuries are talked about. But I want to go deeper than that. I want to go up to the front office, head coach, GM. I think they got too complacent," McCoy said.
"Every year, they are either in the NFC Championship Game or in the Super Bowl. I think they got too complacent where CMC [Christian McCaffrey] getting injured, there’s no real answer for him being injured. Brandon Aiyuk, instead of getting his deal done early in camp, having your number one route runner, thinking that we will get it done eventually."
McCoy pointed to Aiyuk being rusty early in the season after missing most of training camp.
49ers dealing with major injury crisis, putting playoff chances in disarray
Before Week 13, the Niners' playoff chances stood at 17%. That number will have dipped significantly after a primetime beatdown (35-10) at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.
To make matters worse, not only is McCaffrey all but ruled out for the year, but the Niners will also have to deal with his backup Jordan Mason ending up on injured reserve. Mason filled in well for McCaffrey in the first half of the season. With two RBs out, Kyle Shanahan will now have to turn to Isaac Guerendo to lead the attack.
As a side note, if you haven't already, be sure to pick Guerendo off the waiver wire this week.