For the first time since Aug. 8, San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey participated in team drills during practice on Sunday.
While he reportedly had been dealing with “tightness,” some suggested his absences were related to wanting a pay raise. On Sunday, he confirmed that missing some practice time was part of a training camp body-preservation plan. He also seemed to address the rumors about his summer whereabouts.
Christian McCaffrey understands why a “firestorm” arose amid practice absences
“Obviously, when you don’t practice, the way the media works now, is a firestorm,” McCaffrey said, per Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area. “This was kind of part of the plan from the jump — to ramp up pretty big, get nine or 10 practices in, kind of come back down and then ramp up again so we’re fresh for the duration. Our staff has done a great job of coming up with specific plans, and I feel great. I feel fresh and it’s great to get back out there.”
McCaffrey’s contract reportedly includes a non-guaranteed $12.5M for 2026. Meanwhile, Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions reset the market for players at the position earlier this summer. Robinson signed a three-year, $75M contract extension that included $51M guaranteed, and Gibbs subsequently received a three-year, $67.5M deal that could be worth up to $75.75M and included $51.5M guaranteed.
Few would blame McCaffrey if he truly felt underpaid compared to Robinson and Gibbs. However, it sounds like McCaffrey simply doesn’t want to push himself too hard before the games begin to matter.
Christian McCaffrey is sometimes his “own worst enemy”
“Sometimes I can probably be my own worst enemy in how much I love being out there,” McCaffrey added. “I want to run, I want to go. I want every play. I’m a competitor, I love it and I think when you have people smarter than you, that understand, not just what you’ve been through, but what we plan on doing this season. It’s about being fresh for the duration, and it’s about 17 Sundays and God-willing more weeks after that.”
It seems like McCaffrey thinks he’ll be good to go for the 49ers’ Week 1 game against the rival Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 10.
