Overview
- This week, coach Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers want to cut McCaffrey's in-game snaps to keep him fresher for the stretch run and playoffs.
- McCaffrey responded on Thursday that game-day snaps should be driven by competitive needs and that load should be managed in practice while he prepares to play every snap.
- McCaffrey carried an extraordinary load in 2025, logging 932 offensive snaps, a league-leading 413 touches, 2,126 scrimmage yards, and 17 touchdowns after returning from major 2024 injuries.
- San Francisco has added young backs — Isaac Guerendo, Jordan James, and Kaelon Black — to create rotation options, but Guerendo's pectoral tear will keep him out until around the end of training camp.
- Because limiting a primary playmaker in games is practically hard, the 49ers are most likely to protect McCaffrey through practice rest, planned rotations when depth is available, and changes in play-calling that reduce his raw snap share.