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  6. article_body => "<p>\u201cGet real.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s how Sports Illustrated\u2019s Grant Cohn ended his column titled \u201cThe 49ers can\u2019t count on Jerick McKinnon.\u201d The running back signed a $30 million contract with San Francisco in 2018, but has yet to play a regular-season game in a Niners uniform after tearing his ACL in Sept. 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s just say McKinnon is using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/49ers\/news\/49ers-cant-count-on-jerick-mckinnon\" target=\"_blank\">Cohn\u2019s criticism<\/a> as fuel in his rehabilitation process.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I love this shit keep it coming !!!<\/p>&mdash; Jerick Mckinnon (@JetMckinnon1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JetMckinnon1\/status\/1259975563000852486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 11, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p><strong>[49ERS INSIDER PODCAST:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/page\/49ers-insider-podcast-matt-maiocco\" rel=\"noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Listen to the latest episode<\/a><strong>]<\/strong><br><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/49ers-insider-podcast\/embed?playlist_type=latest\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Teammate Kendrick Bourne is all about McKinnon\u2019s appreciation for the haters.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Bro i swear i love it more<\/p>&mdash; Kendrick Bourne Poly (@BournePoly11) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BournePoly11\/status\/1259993162459668480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 11, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>McKinnon recently was seen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/49ers\/49ers-running-back-jerick-mckinnon-looks-healthy-quick-workout-video\" target=\"_blank\">looking rather spry<\/a> in some workout videos, but the road back to the field already has been long for the tailback. 49ers general manager John Lynch remains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/49ers\/49ers-cautiously-optimistic-jerick-mckinnon-will-be-big-factor-2020\" target=\"_blank\">cautiously optimistic<\/a> that McKinnon can be a healthy contributor for coach Kyle Shanahan\u2019s offense.<\/p>\n<p>He also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/49ers\/jerick-mckinnons-new-contract-saves-49ers-more-5m-salary-cap\" target=\"_blank\">restructured his contract<\/a> with the 49ers this offseason, which now is paying him less than $1 million base salary for 2020. The move saves San Francisco almost $6 million off the salary cap in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>The running back\u2019s versatility initially attracted him to Lynch and Shanahan, as McKinnon amassed 570 rushing yards and 421 receiving yards in 2017 with the Minnesota Vikings.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s unfortunate that McKinnon missed the&nbsp;last two NFL seasons due to&nbsp;injury, but the organization isn\u2019t going to give up on a player who has worked tirelessly to return to the field.<\/p>\n<p>Cohn points to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffering a similar injury a month after McKinnon and returning in fine shape the following season. That makes sense, because quarterbacks and running backs have very similar on-field responsibilities and movements right?<\/p>\n<p><strong>[RELATED:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/49ers\/49ers-brandon-aiyuk-ran-faster-asu-all-three-nfl-players\" target=\"_blank\">Brandon Aiyuk ran faster at ASU than all but three NFL players<\/a><strong>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Wrong.<\/p>\n<p>You can\u2019t compare injuries across different people. Yeah, did Adrian Peterson take down his rehab from an ACL tear like a Greek God and return like-new less than a year later? Sure, but plenty of careers also end from knee injuries like the one McKinnon suffered.<\/p>\n<p>Cohn achieved his mission however, as he\u2019s provided motivation for McKinnon and Bourne and riled up the Niners fan base on social media.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But before we \u201cget real\u201d about McKinnon\u2019s future with the 49ers, let\u2019s see what he can do in training camp, whenever that can get underway in-person down in Santa Clara.<\/p>\n"
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49ers

49ers

“Get real.”

That’s how Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn ended his column titled “The 49ers can’t count on Jerick McKinnon.” The running back signed a $30 million contract with San Francisco in 2018, but has yet to play a regular-season game in a Niners uniform after tearing his ACL in Sept. 2018.

Let’s just say McKinnon is using Cohn’s criticism as fuel in his rehabilitation process.

[49ERS INSIDER PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]

Teammate Kendrick Bourne is all about McKinnon’s appreciation for the haters.

McKinnon recently was seen looking rather spry in some workout videos, but the road back to the field already has been long for the tailback. 49ers general manager John Lynch remains cautiously optimistic that McKinnon can be a healthy contributor for coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

He also restructured his contract with the 49ers this offseason, which now is paying him less than $1 million base salary for 2020. The move saves San Francisco almost $6 million off the salary cap in 2020.

 

The running back’s versatility initially attracted him to Lynch and Shanahan, as McKinnon amassed 570 rushing yards and 421 receiving yards in 2017 with the Minnesota Vikings.

It’s unfortunate that McKinnon missed the last two NFL seasons due to injury, but the organization isn’t going to give up on a player who has worked tirelessly to return to the field.

Cohn points to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffering a similar injury a month after McKinnon and returning in fine shape the following season. That makes sense, because quarterbacks and running backs have very similar on-field responsibilities and movements right?

[RELATED: Brandon Aiyuk ran faster at ASU than all but three NFL players]

Wrong.

You can’t compare injuries across different people. Yeah, did Adrian Peterson take down his rehab from an ACL tear like a Greek God and return like-new less than a year later? Sure, but plenty of careers also end from knee injuries like the one McKinnon suffered.

Cohn achieved his mission however, as he’s provided motivation for McKinnon and Bourne and riled up the Niners fan base on social media. 

But before we “get real” about McKinnon’s future with the 49ers, let’s see what he can do in training camp, whenever that can get underway in-person down in Santa Clara.