Few teams have as divergent expectations this season as the San Francisco 49ers. The team clearly has top-tier talent but lacks the roster depth that in previous years was a major asset in remaining competitive despite injuries.
This is reflected in Christian McCaffrey’s participation during the preseason, as he is one of the 49ers’ most important offensive assets. Here’s the status of the running back for the game against the Las Vegas Raiders and whether he will see the field with the starters.
Will Christian McCaffrey Play Against the Las Vegas Raiders?
In recent years, the 49ers have come up short in Kyle Shanahan’s pursuit of a Super Bowl, and that reality hit last season when the team struggled to stay healthy, lost key games late, and finished last in the division after falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 Super Bowl.
Among the players who strongly define the 49ers’ identity, McCaffrey stands out. He has been the player who best catalyzed Shanahan’s system, thanks to his elite performance both running the ball and catching passes when needed.
While Brock Purdy will start on Saturday against the Raiders, and other starters will also play, Shanahan did not specify which players or how many series they will see, keeping McCaffrey’s status uncertain.
#49ers QB Brock Purdy and some starters are expected to play Saturday against the Raiders, per Kyle Shanahan pic.twitter.com/iIBrzYy52v
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) August 14, 2025
Thus, the most likely scenario is that McCaffrey will remain off the field during the preseason for a simple reason: preservation.
In 2024, McCaffrey missed nearly the entire season due to injuries to both Achilles tendons, and when he finally returned, a knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the year. The initial injury occurred due to overtraining during the offseason, which directly impacted the 49ers’ season.
Christian McCaffrey running like there’s nothing on the ground 😮
📺: #SFvsBUF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/VqPsuLni68
— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024
This preseason, the 49ers are already dealing with a roster full of injuries, including backup Isaac Guerendo and rookie Jordan James. The responsibility for carrying the ball fell to Patrick Taylor Jr. against the Denver Broncos and to undrafted rookie Corey Kiner, whom Shanahan specifically praised in an interview.
With the roster already depleted by injuries, playing McCaffrey without an extreme necessity is the last thing Shanahan wants for the season. Risking an injury now would once again dampen the team’s expectations for the year, which the head coach himself admits are modest, with the goal of reaching the playoffs.
Still, McCaffrey’s participation is not ruled out, and Shanahan may want to get him on the field with the starters for at least one drive to test some formations and see how the defense reacts with McCaffrey in play.
The game will kick off at 1:05 p.m. PT at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and will air for the Bay Area on KRON 4 and in Los Angeles on KTLA 5.
