The San Francisco 49ers are the unluckiest team in recent memory as far as injuries concern. Hence, when star running back Christian McCaffrey stopped practicing a few days ago, alarms went off.
However, McCaffrey clarified to the media it is all part of a plan to stay healthy. “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 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.
Hence, the 49ers fans can rest easy, knowing their most important player is all good and actually putting regimes together to stay healthy and available. McCaffrey is undoubtedly the most outstanding offensive player on the roster.
Why is McCaffrey doing this plan?
Running backs tend to suffer quite a lot of injuries, especially when they age and McCaffrey, who has an injury history of his own, is already 30 years old. However, to be fair, he has changed lots of stuff about his career that have made him healthier in recent days.
Christian McCaffrey is looking EXPLOSIVE out there
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) August 23, 2026
🎥: @NBCS49ers pic.twitter.com/zNhEVytBIp
Last season, McCaffrey avoided the injury plague on the Niners and played 17 games and led the NFL in touches for the third time in his career. If he can keep up his rhythm, he will once again be a key player.
49ers RB depth chart
Knock on wood, but if McCaffrey goes down, the 49ers will have to use another running backs to replace him. Now, on the good side, head coach Kyle Shanahan has proven that any running back can be good with him, just not as elite as McCaffrey.
- Christian McCaffrey
- Jordan James
- Kaelon Black
- Isaac Guerendo
- Sincere McCormick
- Khalil Herbert
