The San Francisco 49ers have begun their final preparations for Thursday’s NFL season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
Just four days from kickoff, starting running back Christian McCaffrey’s practice participation has emerged as an early storyline.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported Monday that McCaffrey did not participate in drills during the early portion of San Francisco’s first full practice in Melbourne that was open to reporters.
“Christian McCaffrey [was] not taking part in drills in the early portion of 49ers practice that was open to the media,” Maiocco reported.
According to Maiocco, McCaffrey spoke with reporters before the session but remained off to the side once on-field work open to the media began.
There is no official practice designation yet, as San Francisco was not required to issue a participation report Monday because of the scheduling circumstances surrounding the international game.
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Kyle Shanahan joked about why the 49ers could hold off on providing formal injury information.
“Because we’re technically in the future from where we’re from and the Rams are in the present, I don’t have to talk about injuries until tomorrow,” Shanahan said. “So I’m not talking about them.”
McCaffrey missed two weeks during training camp, but he described that absence as part of a ramp-up plan designed to keep him “fresh for the duration” of the season.
The running back appeared in all 17 games last season and led San Francisco’s backfield with 311 carries turned into 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
San Francisco faces the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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