San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is listed as "questionable" for Sunday's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks due to a calf injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that McCaffrey did not participate in Friday's practice after being limited on Thursday. Reporters, however, did see him working on the side during the early portion of the session.
McCaffrey downplayed the setback, calling it "nothing serious" and stating that he plans to play this weekend.
"I always plan to play. Hell ya," McCaffrey said on Friday.
As for his current health, the running back said, "I feel great about where I'm at. Unfortunately, when you have an injury history that I have, sometimes, when you don't practice, things get blown out of proportion. But, like I said, I feel great."
McCaffrey's optimism is reminiscent of last year's season opener, although he ultimately missed the first eight games of the season due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis.
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When asked if this calf issue feels different from that past setback, McCaffrey said, "Yeah, I've forgotten about last year. Forgot about the year before that, [and] the year before that. I'm focused on this week and playing Seattle on Sunday."
He avoided giving extensive details about the injury but emphasized his cautious approach.
"I felt like it was a smart thing to do, to not finish the practice, because I've been there before, and I've been my own worst enemy in situations like that," McCaffrey shared. "And I was proud of myself for not doing that again. I went through a whole training camp, and feel great about where I'm at."
McCaffrey played in only four games last season, missing the final five due to a PCL injury. He finished the year with 348 scrimmage yards and no touchdowns, leaving him eager to return to form in 2025.
If McCaffrey can't play on Sunday, the 49ers will likely rely on a combination of newly acquired running back Brian Robinson Jr. and second-year back Isaac Guerendo.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 5, 2025