The 49ers have been cautious with their star running back since he first experienced the issue. McCaffrey has not played in either of San Francisco's first two preseason games, and his extended absence had become one of the bigger storylines surrounding training camp.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has maintained that McCaffrey's absence was health-related and pushed back on speculation that the star running back was staging a hold-in over his contract. Shanahan said earlier this week that McCaffrey would likely be practicing if this were a regular-season game week. Now, McCaffrey is back.
That's significant for a 49ers offense built around getting the football in his hands. McCaffrey is coming off a strong 2025 season in which he touched the ball over 400 times and came close to having his second season with 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. He accomplished this after missing significant time the previous year.
The biggest question now is how much work the 49ers give him during Sunday's practice. It's doubtful the team has any intention of getting him into the lineup for Thursday night's preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. For now, simply seeing number 23 back on the field is a welcome development for San Francisco.
Also returning to practice on Sunday is tight end George Kittle, who the 49ers activated from the PUP list today, and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who sustained a shoulder injury Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. Lenoir is in a blue, no-contact jersey, per Barrows.
Barrows is also reporting that rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling is back at practice, wearing a black, no-contact jersey. Like Lenoir, Stribling suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason win over the Chargers. The 49ers said both injuries are day-to-day, and neither sounds concerning.
Written By:
Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
YouTube.com/@49ersCamelot
Find the 49ers Camelot show wherever you listen to your podcasts!
All articles by Marc Adams
Marc Adams
Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
YouTube.com/@49ersCamelot
Find the 49ers Camelot show wherever you listen to your podcasts!
All articles by Marc Adams
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