Christian McCaffrey remains one of the most important players on the San Francisco 49ers roster as the team prepares for another season with Super Bowl aspirations. The veteran running back enters his 10th NFL season after returning to his elite form in 2025.
McCaffrey played all 17 games last season and finished with 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 311 carries. He added 924 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 102 receptions, giving San Francisco one of the NFL’s most productive offensive weapons.
His recent injury history, however, has made every development surrounding his availability worth monitoring, especially with the season right around the corner.
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McCaffrey missed most of the 2024 season after dealing with calf and Achilles issues before suffering a season-ending PCL injury in his right knee. He returned in 2025 and handled a significant workload throughout the year.
McCaffrey was absent in practice on Monday, raising concerns about his health. The team later announced that he sat out due to “tightness,” according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.
There is no indication that the issue represents a significant setback, but the 49ers will have little reason to push their star running back during training camp. San Francisco has already seen how quickly McCaffrey’s availability can change because of injuries.
The 49ers do have options behind McCaffrey, but these players are currently nursing injuries too. Jordan James is currently the primary backup, with rookie Kaelon Black also on the roster. Isaac Guerendo remains another option, although he is currently on the physically unable-to-perform list.
A prolonged absence would force San Francisco to redistribute McCaffrey’s workload while also removing one of the league’s most versatile weapons from Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
McCaffrey’s status will be worth monitoring. 49ers fans will be hoping his injury doesn’t develop into something more serious as the team continues its preparations for the 2026 season.
