Christian McCaffrey has missed several practices dating back to early last week due to “tightness.” Unsourced speculation suggested that McCaffrey was sitting out for a new extension in response to the recent lucrative deals handed out at his position to Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, and Jahmyr Gibbs. But 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan dismissed the idea, saying “I think they make a lot of assumptions, and that would be one that they’re wrong on,” per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Week 1 Still on Track
McCaffrey finished as the highest-scoring PPR fantasy running back last season with 24.2 points per game (PPG). It’s the highest mark by a running back since 2023, when McCaffrey posted 24.3 PPG.
With Robinson, Gibbs, and Taylor, the next-closest producers, all signing extensions this offseason, it was fair to wonder whether McCaffrey would seek a contract revision of his own.
Especially with him missing practice time for what the team has vaguely called “tightness.”
Shanahan said McCaffrey would play if this were game week, so we’re still expecting a full-go by Week 1 from a back who’s produced at least 20.0 PPG in three of the last four seasons.
