Christian McCaffrey returned to practice on Sunday, his first time on the field with his teammates since Aug. 8. The 49ers' terming his injury as "tightness" raised some eyebrows given he had calf tightness during the 2024 training camp that carried into the season. His absence has some others wondering whether it had anything to do with his contract.
The running back said Sunday the time away was planned as part of his load management.
"This was kind of part of the plan from the jump," McCaffrey said, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. "Was to ramp up pretty big, get 9, 10 practices in, kind of come back down, and then ramp back up so we're fresh for the duration."
McCaffrey played only four games in 2024 with what was later announced as Achilles tendinitis, and he had a separate injury to his posterior collateral ligament.
The 49ers have been deliberate with his practice schedule since.
McCaffrey, 30, led the league with 413 touches last year.
"I can probably be my worst enemy in how much I just love being out there," McCaffrey said. "I want to run. I want to go. I want every play. I'm a competitor. I love it."
He sounds as if he will be ready for Week 1.
"I feel great," McCaffrey said. "So I feel fresh, and it's good to be back out there."
McCaffrey has watched Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson and Jonathan Taylor sign extensions this offseason, pushing him to the fifth-highest paid player at his position. He makes an annual average of $19 million a season and is under contract through 2027.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said recently that McCaffrey's absence was not related to his contract.
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