Christian McCaffrey has finally addressed the speculation surrounding his extended absence from San Francisco 49ers training camp.
After missing roughly two weeks of practice, the star running back returned to team drills on Sunday and explained that his limited workload was planned from the beginning. McCaffrey also pushed back on the idea that he was using the situation as leverage for a new contract.
Christian McCaffrey Addresses His Absence
McCaffrey stopped practicing on Aug. 8 after experiencing calf and overall body tightness. His absence quickly fueled speculation that something bigger was happening behind the scenes.
With running back salaries rising after new deals for Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, some wondered whether McCaffrey could be attempting a contract “hold-in.” His current deal averages $19 million per year, fueling speculation.
McCaffrey, however, offered a much simpler explanation when he returned to practice.
“Yeah, obviously when you don’t practice, the way the media works now, it’s a firestorm, but this was part of the plan from the jump, to ramp up pretty big, get 9 or 10 practices in, kind of come back down and then ramp back up so we’re fresh for the duration. I feel great, I feel fresh, and it’s good to be back out there,” McCaffrey said.
Christian McCaffrey said his absence from practice was part of the plan to have him ready for Week 1:
“Yeah obviously when you don’t practice, the way the media works now it’s a firestorm, but this was part of the plan from the jump was to ramp up pretty big, get 9 or 10… pic.twitter.com/uqwHras4PG
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) August 23, 2026
According to McCaffrey, the 49ers planned his training camp workload well before the speculation began. The goal was to build up his workload, give him time to recover, and then ramp him back up before the regular season.
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan also dismissed the contract speculation, saying McCaffrey was dealing with legitimate physical tightness. “I think they make a lot of assumptions and that would be one that they’re wrong on,” Shanahan said. “I think if it wasn’t Christian and we were in a game week.”
49ers Prioritize McCaffrey’s Health
The cautious approach makes sense given McCaffrey’s recent injury history.
Since he dealt with bilateral Achilles tendinitis during the 2024 season, the 49ers have little reason to push their most important offensive weapon unnecessarily during training camp.
McCaffrey remains one of the central pieces of San Francisco’s offense, making his availability for Week 1 far more important than how many practice reps he takes in August.
His return should, therefore, provide some relief for the 49ers. Rather than a contract dispute or a mysterious injury, McCaffrey says his absence was simply part of a carefully managed plan designed to have him fresh when the games actually count.
