The 49ers have moved quickly to shore up their backfield while Christian McCaffrey deals with a setback that has kept him out of multiple training camp practices.
McCaffrey has been sidelined by what the team has described as “tightness” and soreness, and San Francisco is treating the situation with caution. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the star running back is dealing with intense muscle tightness, and the team has kept him completely out of live drills as a result.
That approach fits the way the 49ers are handling one of the most important pieces of their offense. McCaffrey remains the player who changes everything for San Francisco, the unique “unicorn” who opens up Kyle Shanahan’s playbook and gives the offense a different level of force. The team is trying to make sure a minor issue does not become something bigger.
There’s also recent history behind the concern. Around this point last season, McCaffrey was working through a nagging calf issue. Given the demands of his running style and the stress it puts on his lower body over the course of a season, the 49ers are being careful with the reigning Offensive Player of the Year.
To help cover the backfield while McCaffrey gets the time he needs, San Francisco officially signed veteran running back Zamir White.
White was a fourth-round pick in 2022 and has now played four seasons in the league. In the 2025 NFL regular season, he appeared in 6 games for the Las Vegas Raiders, finishing with 12 carries for 32 rushing yards, a 2.7 average, no rushing touchdowns, and 4 receptions for 24 receiving yards.
For now, the move gives the 49ers some immediate depth behind McCaffrey while he focuses on his rehabilitation program.
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