The San Francisco 49ers suffered their first loss of the 2026 season on Sunday, falling 29-20 to the Atlanta Falcons on the road and dropping to 6-1.

However, there was some positive news following the Week 7 loss, as the 49ers appeared to avoid any significant new injuries.


The only injury head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed after the game was running back Christian McCaffrey, who exited in the first half with a thigh injury and returned in the third quarter.

McCaffrey was clearly frustrated by the setback, particularly after getting off to a strong start.

"It sucks because I felt like I was going on a run there, and my leg just died on me," McCaffrey said in the visitors' locker room at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. "I was trying to get it going for the whole rest of the game, but it just sucks trying to play like that. I know I'll be all right, but it's just really frustrating."

The running back stressed that he doesn't believe the injury will keep him sidelined during future games.

"I'll be fine. I'm not worried about it," he said. "It just sucks to me because that was one of those ones where I just felt like I could have got going ... I was just trying to keep it warm and not make it worse, but there's only so much you can do to get back to where you want to be. I'll be fine. I know that. I'll be all right."


Shanahan was asked whether McCaffrey looked like his usual self after returning to the game.

"I don't know," Shanahan responded. "I'll ask him, but I'll wait until I see on tape. He seemed all right."

McCaffrey acknowledged that the injury affected his ability to play at full speed after returning.

"That's the whole point of not being able to play it at 100 percent," McCaffrey said. "When something like that happens, it sucks, but you've got to find a way to make it work, maybe at a slower speed. But I know I'll be all right. I know I'll get this thing back and be ready to go."

Cornerback Upton Stout entered Sunday's game listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. Although he was active against the Falcons, he did not play. Shanahan confirmed that Stout was available only for emergencies and wasn't healthy enough to start.


The 49ers entered the game shorthanded, and Stout likely would have been inactive if the roster were healthier.

While the initial injury updates were encouraging, more information could emerge Monday when Shanahan addresses reporters during a conference call.

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