The San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has missed over a week of practice in training camp, and rumors are spreading that there might be some contract adjustment.
Oct 19, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) talks with middle linebacker Fred Warner (left) before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The franchise has reported that McCaffrey has been missing in action since Aug. 8, as he is dealing with tightness.
Fans are speculating that there might be more to the story and that the running back may be engaging in a “hold-in” as he seeks a new contract. The organization is in a difficult place, as it has seen several players miss time due to untimely injuries.
NFL Analyst Warns 49ers Amid McCaffrey RumorsIn a recent episode of The Richard Sherman Podcast, NFL analyst David Lombardi discussed the situation and explained why protecting McCaffrey during the preseason makes sense. He said:
“There have been rumors, you know, the hold-in; everybody’s speculating. No, is Christian McCaffrey’s back really tight? Or is he concerned about Jahmyr Gibbs’s contract?
Bijan Robinson and all these guys getting these major deals. In previous years, when Christian McCaffrey’s getting protected during the preseason, people understood. This year, it’s like they’re protecting Christian McCaffrey’s hold. Don’t get logical with me, man.”
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McCaffrey remains one of the most important players on the 49ers’ roster, which makes his absence a major talking point. With the regular season approaching, the organization will want to make sure that the running back is completely healthy and ready to contribute when the games begin to matter.
The analyst also talked about the possible reason the organization would not make any decision and would wait until next offseason. He said the following:
“He’s not even on the lame duck year of his contract yet, and he already got paid out an $11 million option bonus in March.
So you would think that the time to try to renegotiate that if he wanted it in a serious way would have been earlier. I think the 49ers want to see how this season plays out, and then he’s going to be entering the final year of his contract in 2027.
Nobody has ever won a Super Bowl in August, but they’ve certainly lost Super Bowls in August, right, with some of these injuries. So, I mean, I think it’s logical, but everything these days is a scandal, right?”
For now, the 49ers will have to continue managing McCaffrey carefully while preparing for the upcoming season. Whether the speculation surrounding his contract develops into something more remains to be seen, but keeping him healthy will be one of San Francisco’s biggest priorities. His availability could play an important role in the team’s hopes of making another deep postseason run.
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