A large portion of the San Francisco 49ers’ collapse from a team in overtime of the Super Bowl to a six-win squad could be attributed to the health of Christian McCaffrey. Arguably the best and most impactful player on the 49ers’ offense, his absence was felt across the board last season. This year, he’s trying to make his way back to perfect health and lead another charge to the playoffs for San Francisco.
However, the road back to the gridiron has been a tough one for the superstar running back. For a team entering the year without their primary WR1 in Brandon Aiyuk, McCaffrey’s status could be the deciding factor in their postseason hopes. Will he be in the lineup when the Niners kick off their season against the Seattle Seahawks?
What Happened to Christian McCaffrey?
An injury in training camp last year that was initially seen as a minor setback turned into a season-long issue for McCaffrey. It caused him to miss the first nine weeks of the season, during which he even visited Germany to see an Achilles specialist.
He was eventually cleared for action in Week 10, but his season only lasted four games, as he suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee that ended his year. Throughout the summer, McCaffrey nursed his way back to health and seemed ready to start.
However, a mysterious injury has affected his availability during practices this week. On Thursday, he was a limited participant, and he didn’t participate with the team at all the following day.
For the time being, the three-time Pro Bowler has made it clear that cramping on Thursday led to a lack of time in team practices. But this has put his status for Week 1 in jeopardy.
Will McCaffrey Play Against the Seahawks?
On one hand, head coach Kyle Shanahan wasn’t fully confident about his superstar running back’s status for the game. Speaking at Friday’s press conference, he admitted, “It’s questionable, questionable concern.”
However, McCaffrey seems to be fully set on the idea of playing in Week 1 against Seattle. “I always plan to play. I feel great about where I’m at. Unfortunately, when you have the injury history that I have, sometimes when you don’t practice, things get blown out of proportion. But like I said, I feel great.”
Kyle Shanahan says they’ll be smart with Christian McCaffrey’s usage this season:
“Obviously, we want Christian out there. He’s one of, if not the best running back in the NFL. The best running back in the pass game also, but we love Brian coming in there and not missing a beat.… pic.twitter.com/MmdfkmHbF7
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) September 6, 2025
Eventually, he relented with a simple mantra. “At the end of the day, if you can play, you play in the game. It’s as simple as that.” For the most part, it seems like that is the direction the 49ers are leaning towards.
Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network confirmed, “No RB added for the #49ers. WR Russell Gage and LB Curtis Robinson were elevated from the practice squad. Another indication they’re hopeful on Christian McCaffrey.”
As a result, the chances of McCaffrey suiting up in Week 1 began to brighten up. However, expect his workload to be balanced, as the 49ers try to divide the snaps between the four-time All-Pro and offseason addition, Brian Robinson Jr.
“Brian knows the game plan,” Shanahan said. “You don’t have to know an entire offense. You need to know what the plan is this week. He’s repped it, so if that’s the situation, we’re good to go with it.”
On Sunday, NFL insider Adam Schefter confirmed that McCaffrey will play against the Seahawks in Week 1.
