SANTA CLARA — Jerick McKinnon got poached from the Minnesota Vikings two years ago to become a dynamic factor for the 49ers’ offense.
A Sept. 1, 2018 knee injury wrecked the initial plan. McKinnon became a ghost, not just last season but this one.
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In between those lost seasons, however, McKinnon did something that shouldn’t go unnoticed: he spurred along Jimmy Garoppolo in their respective recoveries from anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
McKinnon, more than anyone, can appreciate Garoppolo’s ability to start every game and lead the top-seeded 49ers into Saturday’s playoff opener – against McKinnon’s former team, the Vikings.