Teammates see Jerick McKinnon set for a breakout 2020 season

Back in 2018, Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch had seen enough from Jerick McKinnon to make him one of the splashiest free agent signings of the offseason.

The former Minnesota Vikings running back had only run for 1,918 yards in his first four years in the league but he was also a contributor in the passing game. He quietly racked up almost 1,000 yards receiving and a caught 74.3-percent of his targets during that same time.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, nothing has gone according to plan. Complications from McKinnon’s original ACL injury that occurred during training camp in 2018 have kept him off the field for two consecutive seasons.

Now, fully healthy, McKinnon’s return is one of the most anticipated comebacks for 49ers players and fans alike.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who suffered an ACL injury shortly after McKinnon, not only shares the bond of rehabbing his injury with the running back but also of seeing the game from a similar perspective.

“Yeah, Jet, being a former quarterback it's kind of a rarity to have a skill position guy who sees the game like a quarterback still and Jet does a great job of that,” Garoppolo said via video last week. “Even just throwing routes on air this offseason, he runs them differently than most running backs and he has a feel that's like a receiver, but he feels space like a quarterback.

“It's very unique and I'm excited to get him back, man. It's been a while. We came in together, me and him when we both signed here, and it's exciting to have him back.”

Kyle Juszczyk knows how hard McKinnon has worked to finally make his return. The fullback has seen McKinnon up close and won’t be surprised when his position mate has a breakout season.

“Jet has looked phenomenal,” Juszczyk said. “You just would never guess going out there and watching the way he practices, the way how smooth he is, the way he doesn’t second guess himself, how quickly he answers questions in meetings, all that kind of stuff. You would never guess that this guy hasn’t been on the field for two years.

“He just just makes things look so natural, so smooth, that I think there can only be positive things for him this year. I think he’s going to have a really good year.”

New arrival to Santa Clara, left tackle Trent Williams, is betting on McKinnon shocking the world in 2020.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Jet,” Williams said. “You know, after two years, kind of, the way he’s looked in the offseason, I just can’t fathom him not being a breakout player.”