Christian McCaffrey was listed limited with a calf issue ahead of Week 1. Here’s the full injury update, what it means for San Francisco’s depth chart, and sources to follow.
Quick summary — Christian McCaffrey Injury
San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey was listed as a limited participant on Thursday’s practice report with a calf issue — a development that raises fresh questions about his availability for the season opener.
What the injury report says (and why it matters)
The 49ers’ official Thursday practice report showed McCaffrey as limited because of a calf problem after he practiced fully the day before. Multiple outlets — including ESPN, NFL.com, CBS Sports, and the San Francisco Chronicle — reported the same update and noted the timing is especially sensitive given McCaffrey’s recent availability history.
Why this is important: McCaffrey is the engine of the 49ers’ offense when healthy. Any calf-related limitation is treated cautiously in the NFL because calf issues can cascade into Achilles or hamstring problems if pushed too hard. The team will likely monitor him closely across Friday’s practice and the official gameday report.
The immediate context — recent history of injuries
McCaffrey’s presence on the injury report is especially notable because of last season’s availability struggles. He missed 13 games in 2024 after a combination of a calf/Achilles condition and a PCL sprain, and the 49ers managed by creating more depth behind him. That recent history makes any new calf mention a red flag for fantasy managers and fans.
The club has publicly praised McCaffrey’s offseason work and recovery, but the practice-report addition shows the team will remain conservative when it comes to his workload early in the season.
What the 49ers have behind McCaffrey (backup plan)
San Francisco built more depth behind CMC during the offseason — and those options are suddenly more important:
- Brian Robinson (veteran pick-up) is the most obvious short-term replacement to handle early-down work if McCaffrey is unavailable. The San Francisco Chronicle listed Robinson as the expected starter in the event McCaffrey can’t go.
- Isaac Guerendo (practice-squad/rotational piece) and rookie Jordan James are also in the mix as rotational options if needed. Analysts and local media note the 49ers prepared for McCaffrey’s injury history by increasing backfield depth.
Fantasy managers: keep an eye on usage reports and Week 1 projections — backups would see immediate fantasy work if CMC is limited or inactive.
[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]
Will McCaffrey play vs. the Seahawks in Week 1?
At the time of the Thursday report McCaffrey was listed limited; that status does not automatically keep a player out of the Week 1 game, but it raises the uncertainty level. Outlets including NFL.com and CBS have noted the team’s history of cautious handling and that a final gameday decision will depend on Friday practice, the Saturday injury report and the team’s medical evaluation.
Coach Kyle Shanahan’s public comments have stressed confidence in McCaffrey’s offseason work but also a willingness to be cautious. Expect the team to err on the side of long-term availability if he’s not full-go on the official gameday report.
What the injury could mean for the 49ers’ game plan
If McCaffrey is limited or inactive, Shanahan will likely lean on a more balanced rushing plan to replace CMC’s multi-dimensional role:
- Greater early-down rushing volume for Brian Robinson or other backups to manage the clock.
- Increased passing-game involvement for backs who run routes (Guerendo, James) and more designed checkdowns for QB Brock Purdy.
- More use of play-action and receiving options to simulate McCaffrey’s space-creation role.
That would be a tactical shift — not catastrophic — for an offense built with flexibility, but it reduces the explosiveness and mismatch-creation McCaffrey provides.
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Fantasy football & betting implications
- Fantasy: For redraft managers, McCaffrey is a week-to-week starter when active; however, this injury report raises immediate interest in his primary backup(s). If McCaffrey is ruled out, Brian Robinson becomes a high-priority waiver target for Week 1. Keep tabs on site-updated projections (ESPN, FantasyPros) across Friday and Saturday.
- Betting: Props tied to McCaffrey’s rushing attempts or scrimmage yards will be adjusted or removed depending on the gameday status. Bettors should wait for the official inactive list before committing to player props tied to CMC.
Injury mechanics: why calf problems get special attention
Calf strains or tightness can be the start of a longer soft-tissue issue. In elite athletes, pushing through an untreated calf problem may lead to tendon overload (Achilles issues) or compensation injuries (hamstring, knee). Teams and trainers often take a conservative approach — rest, targeted rehab, and delaying full workload until the player demonstrates pain-free sprinting and cutting. Given McCaffrey’s recent bilateral Achilles history that began as a calf concern last season, the 49ers will likely prioritize long-term health over a single Week 1 appearance.
How the team and medical staff handle updates
Expect a cadence of reports that includes:
- Friday practice notes (does McCaffrey go full?)
- Saturday gameday report (active/questionable/out) — official designation will settle fantasy & betting markets.
- Postgame medical notes (team statement on any lingering issues if he plays).
Follow trusted beat reporters (listed below) for the fastest, most accurate updates — social posts from trusted insiders (Adam Schefter, Tom Pelissero, Matt Maiocco) often break the earliest news and are then confirmed by team reporters. citeturn0search11turn0search10
Five load-bearing facts (sources)
- McCaffrey was listed limited at Thursday’s practice with a calf issue.
- The 49ers opened the season against the Seattle Seahawks (Week 1).
- McCaffrey missed 13 games last season due to related calf/Achilles and knee problems.
- San Francisco has depth behind CMC — Brian Robinson, Isaac Guerendo and rookie Jordan James are candidates to fill snaps.
- Teams treat calf issues cautiously because of the risk of escalation to tendons or compensatory injuries; the 49ers are likely to be conservative with McCaffrey.
Bottom line — manage expectations, not panic
Christian McCaffrey’s presence on the injury report is an eyebrow-raiser, not an automatic catastrophe. The 49ers have invested in depth because of his known history; the team’s medical staff and coaches are likely to be conservative with his workload in the opening days. Fantasy managers and bettors should monitor Friday’s practice and Saturday’s game-day designation before making lineup or wagering changes. If McCaffrey is limited or out, immediate attention should turn to Brian Robinson and the other backups. citeturn0news18turn0search17
