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The San Francisco 49ers received an unwelcome development on Thursday when Christian McCaffrey was added to the injury report with a calf issue. The star running back, who had made it through training camp and preseason without setbacks, was a limited participant in practice.
Reporters observed McCaffrey, 29, go through his typical warmups and individual drills during the open portion of practice, but he did not appear in the locker room afterward and skipped his usual media availability.
History of Lower-body Injuries
The situation is drawing concern, given McCaffrey’s recent history of lower-body injuries. Last year, he missed the first eight games of the season with what the team initially called a calf problem before clarifying it was bilateral Achilles tendinitis.
He returned in November and played four games before suffering a torn PCL in his right knee against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13, which ended his season. His recovery included a trip to Germany to see a specialist.
Offseason Progress and Management
McCaffrey appeared fully healthy this offseason. He participated without restrictions in OTAs, training camp, and preseason, and he spoke in April about his determination to return at full strength.
“It’s been such a smooth process, a lot of hard work,” McCaffrey said via ESPN. “As soon as that injury happened in Buffalo, my goal was to not miss a day of OTAs, be back, ready to go with nothing hindering me. And that’s where I’m at.”
The 49ers also managed his workload by giving him scheduled rest days in camp. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he felt confident McCaffrey was back to his old self as early as OTAs. “Christian’s not a liar,” Shanahan said. “He told me he was healthy, and we saw it right away. He looked like the guy we’ve always known.”
Teammates’ Outlook
Tight end George Kittle, who has a locker next to McCaffrey, echoed that excitement. “He seems very excited. He’s been excited since OTAs, since the season ended,” Kittle said Thursday. “I’m very much looking forward to blocking for him and running routes next to him again.”
Week 1 Implications
The 49ers open the season Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, listed as 1.5-point road favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook. McCaffrey’s Friday practice designation will provide the clearest indication of his availability.
If McCaffrey is limited or unavailable, San Francisco will lean on newly acquired Brian Robinson Jr., who rushed for 799 yards and eight touchdowns with Washington last season, and second-year back Isaac Guerendo, who added 420 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie.
For now, the 49ers — and their fans — will be watching closely to see if their offensive centerpiece is ready to go in Week 1.
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