San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was on the practice field Friday, participating in the team's final session before traveling to Seattle for Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks at Lumen Field. His presence is an encouraging sign that he is on track to play in the 2025 regular-season opener.
Update: Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that McCaffrey did not practice during Friday's session and is officially listed as "questionable" for Sunday's game.
#49ers RB Christian McCaffrey IS in uniform and warming up on the field during early open portion of Friday's practice.
We'll hear more from Kyle Shanahan in about an hour.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) September 5, 2025
However, it is worth noting that McCaffrey was working off to the side at the start of practice while his teammates warmed up.
#49ers RB Christian McCaffrey in uniform at start of practice. He was working off to the side as rest of team warmed up.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) September 5, 2025
McCaffrey was listed as a "limited participant" in Thursday's practice due to a calf issue, a development that quickly drew the attention of both fans and media. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is scheduled to speak with reporters after Friday's practice and is expected to provide further updates on McCaffrey's status.
Injuries derailed McCaffrey's 2024 campaign, limiting him to just four games. A calf injury in training camp developed into bilateral Achilles tendinitis, sidelining him for the first eight games of the season. Later, a PCL injury forced him to miss the final five contests.
He finished the year with only 348 scrimmage yards and no touchdowns, a far cry from his 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year form.
This offseason, however, McCaffrey has remained healthy and has been a consistent presence throughout training camp. Coaches and teammates were optimistic that his return to full strength would provide a major boost to the offense in 2025.
The 49ers, coming off a disappointing 6-11 injury-plagued season, hope McCaffrey's impact can help fuel a bounce-back campaign despite significant offseason roster turnover.