Christian McCaffrey’s name is once again attached to an injury worry, and that alone is enough to set off alarm bells around the 49ers.
The All-Pro running back has been one of the NFL’s most dangerous offensive weapons when he’s on the field, but availability has been the nagging issue. Over the last five years or so, McCaffrey has dealt with repeated injury problems, including a season in which he missed half the year in 2021 and another in 2024 when he was sidelined for most of the campaign. He was healthy in 2025, and the production showed it: 1,202 rushing yards and 924 receiving yards.
Now, with the 2026 NFL preseason getting underway, McCaffrey is not practicing, and his return timeline remains unclear. Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group reported that McCaffrey wasn’t practicing again on Sunday, adding to the concern about whether this is a minor issue or something more serious.
The unease is easy to understand. Pro Football Talk noted, “In 2025, McCaffrey led the league with 413 regular-season touches in 17 games.
At 30, McCaffrey is already pushing the age envelope for tailbacks. He has had 2,284 regular season touches in nine NFL seasons,”
They also pointed out, “For now, the 49ers may simply be protecting McCaffrey from himself. At some point, it will be fair to wonder whether it’s something more than proactive maintenance. Especially since the same scenario played out in 2024.”
For now, that’s where things stand: McCaffrey is out of practice, the questions are hanging in the air, and the 49ers are left hoping this doesn’t turn into another significant setback before the 2026 regular season begins.
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