San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has not trained since last Monday due to “tightness.” Speculation around the league suggests that McCaffrey is staging a subtle hold-in to get a better contract from the 49ers to match the league’s running back market.
Mike Florio Unconvinced by Christian McCaffrey’s Mystery Injury
During Monday’s segment of the “Pro Football Talk” show, analyst Mike Florio speculated that McCaffrey was holding out for a better contract with the 49ers.
“Sometimes when you try to understand things happening in the NFL, you need to look at the timeline,” Florio said. “For example, Falcons running back Bijan Robinson gets a big contract, a couple of days later, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs gets a big contract. A couple of days later, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey starts missing practice due to tightness. He’s now missed a week of practice.
“Some are wondering whether or not his tightness, whether his absence from practice relates to a desire to get an adjustment on his contract given what Robinson and Gibbs are being paid. McCaffrey’s now 30, he’s due to make $12.5 million this year, none of it is guaranteed. He’s got one last bite at the apple and now is the time to take it. Now is the time to protect himself while he lays the foundation to get that sweetener.”
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McCaffrey signed a two-year, $38 million contract extension with the 49ers in June 2024, making him one of the league’s highest-paid running backs. His deal averages $19 million a year, with $24 million guaranteed.
Some think Christian McCaffrey’s recent practice absences due to “tightness” could be a low-key hold in sparked by the Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs contracts. pic.twitter.com/Rbwo7SWZFE
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 17, 2026
Florio further stated his belief that the running back would hold out until the 49ers matched the NFL’s running back market.
“He (McCaffrey) doesn’t need the preseason; he doesn’t need the extra reps. He is ready to go, he’s always ready to go,” Florio said. “But he may be ready to sit until he gets that contract. Some believe that it’s gonna happen. Either way, we’ll see if the 49ers pay him one last time before Christian McCaffrey’s career runs out.”
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The NFL running back market experienced a boom during the offseason, with three deals shattering the record for the highest-paid player in the position in league history.
The Atlanta Falcons agreed to a three-year, $66.75 million deal with Bijan Robinson, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, before the record was broken a few days later.
After a hold-in to begin training camp, Jahmyr Gibbs signed a mammoth three-year, $67.5 million contract extension with the Detroit Lions. The running back will have $51.5 million guaranteed, and incentives could increase the deal’s value to $75.75 million.
Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor also signed a lucrative two-year, $44 million deal, completing the boon for NFL running backs.
Last season, McCaffrey tallied 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 311 carries, adding 924 receiving yards and 7 scores on 102 catches, earning a PFN Running Back Impact score of 86.2 (No. 3 in the NFL), just behind Robinson and Taylor.
