Brock Purdy gains security blanket with return of 49ers playmaker

"It's just nice to have Christian out there in every aspect," head coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday during a radio interview. "... In the pass game, it's just always a little bit different. He pulls coverage to him. Brock and I joke, but it's almost like getting your blankie back because no matter what happens on a play, as a play-caller, I always feel like, 'Well, if it's not there, you got him at the end of the play, just underneath, and you can go to him.'

"And Brock, no matter where he's looking, trying to go down the field, trying to go somewhere, and a pass rush comes, you always can move to the left and find your little outlet that's sitting right there. When that outlet's Christian McCaffrey, it makes everybody a lot more comfortable, and it makes things a lot easier."

McCaffrey logged just 39 rushing yards, averaging three yards per carry—modest by his usual standards. Another 49ers coach attributed this to McCaffrey simply needing reps after a lengthy absence, believing the production will come.

"That's always my biggest concern was a guy gets out there the first live reps of the year, you don't have the preseason games, you have nothing," said run game coordinator and offensive line coach Chris Foerster. "It's your first live reps, and everybody's in mid-season form. I thought he did a great job protecting the ball. And so, I'd say, I think he's right there. It's hard for me to say he's not. I hate saying that about the guy because the guy's darn good."

Reflecting on his own performance, McCaffrey noted, "I think the tape was good. You always want to break more tackles and make great plays and stuff like that. But just good to get back into the feel of it. ... I actually felt like my eyes were pretty good, looking back, and it's just about getting back into the groove of things."

With McCaffrey back in action, the 49ers' offense feels recharged. They'll need him at peak form in the season's second half to keep their playoff hopes alive.

"And so, it's crazy when a person comes back of his caliber, what it does to our team and everybody elevating their game," Purdy said. "So obviously, extremely happy to have him back for everything that he does for us. But more than anything, we've just got so much respect for how he goes about his business and being such a great teammate that he is."