Overview
- The 49ers have kept Christian McCaffrey off practice because of unspecified muscle tightness, and the team is treating his absence as a medical precaution rather than a contract tactic.
- Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio raised a theory that McCaffrey was limiting practice to press for a pay raise after recent running back market moves, but that idea was publicly disputed by multiple insiders.
- NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and coach Kyle Shanahan both said the issue is real tightness and not a ‘hold-in,’ and Shanahan added McCaffrey would have practiced on Tuesday if it were not a joint session.
- McCaffrey has two years left on a two‑year, $38 million extension that pays him $12.5 million in 2026 with that money not guaranteed, and early offseason check‑ins about a new deal reportedly did not progress.
- The 49ers are cautious because McCaffrey led the league with 413 touches in 2025 and has a history of calf, Achilles and knee problems, so the club is protecting his workload now to reduce the risk of a longer absence.