SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Running back Christian McCaffrey has been included on the injury report for Thursday night, after having come through training camp and the preseason without apparent problems and without even appearing on the injury report on Wednesday. According to the Niners, McCaffrey is dealing with a calf issue and was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice. McCaffrey was on the field and did his usual warm-up and individual drills during the approximately 20 minutes open to the media at the start of practice. However, McCaffrey was not in the locker room after it was over and did not conduct his usual media session on Thursday. McCaffrey’s inclusion on the injury report with a calf issue is particularly notable given what happened before Week 1 of last season. McCaffrey missed most of the 2024 training camp while dealing with what the team initially called a calf injury, but later clarified was bilateral Achilles tendinitis. Before last year’s season opener against the New York Jets, McCaffrey was listed as a limited participant in practice during the week and then as doubtful for the game. McCaffrey not only didn’t play against the Jets, but he also missed the team’s next seven games after being placed on the injured reserve list before the Week 2 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. After a long recovery that included a trip to Germany to see a specialist, McCaffrey finally returned on November 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and appeared in four games before suffering a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13. After missing the rest of the season due to that knee injury, McCaffrey returned to the field for the team’s entire offseason program and then during this year’s training camp. Similar to what they did in 2023, the Niners limited McCaffrey’s workload during training camp, giving him an extra day off to start each stretch of three practices.
On Wednesday, coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if there was a moment in the offseason when he realized McCaffrey was “fully back.”Just trust the plan. They have written a really good plan. Just trust it and do everything you can every day to improve.
Christian McCaffrey
The 49ers’ tight end, George Kittle, who has a locker next to McCaffrey, was asked on Thursday if he could sense how eager McCaffrey was to get back in the mix after playing only four games in 2024.I knew Christian was back as soon as he told me he was healthy. It’s not that we were thinking he wouldn’t be back. You know, you hope those things, the arthritis and everything, go away. Which they usually do. He told us early in the offseason, so I felt pretty good about it. Christian’s not a liar. So I didn’t think he was. Then we saw him early in OTAs, he looked like the guy we’ve always known and he’s continued it.
Kyle Shanahan
He seems very excited. He’s been excited since OTAs. He’s been excited since the season ended. So yes, I’m really looking forward to being able to block for him and run routes alongside him again.
George Kittle
