Christian McCaffrey: Absence from practices was ‘part of the plan from the jump’

With McCaffrey sitting out practices, rumors began to fly. From questions about his injury status to speculation that his absence was contract-related. Interestingly, the 49ers’ brass could have simply said the RB’s absence was a plan of sorts from the beginning, but did not. McCaffrey dismissed the stories and noted that sometimes he needs to be protected from his own competitive nature.

“Sometimes I can probably be my own worst enemy in how much I love being out there,” McCaffrey said. “I want to run, I want to go. I want every play, I’m a competitor, I love it and I think when you have people smarter than you, that understand not just what you’ve been through, but what we plan on doing this season.

“It’s about being fresh for the duration and it’s about 17 Sundays and God-willing more weeks after that.”

Following an injury-plagued 2024 season, in which he played just four games, CMC touched the pigskin 413 times, including 311 carries, a career high, last season. Managing the offseason makes sense for a player vital to the Niners’ success in 2026.