San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey is trending toward a return to practice, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. McCaffrey would have participated in Tuesday's session if it were not a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Shanahan addressed speculation that McCaffrey's missed time was linked to a desire for a new contract, stating, "I think people make a lot of assumptions. That would be one that they're wrong on." He added that if it were a regular game week, McCaffrey would likely be playing.
The coach clarified that McCaffrey has been experiencing "some tightness," which led to him missing five consecutive practices. This explanation refutes rumors that surfaced after recent contract escalations for other running backs.
Earlier in the offseason, running backs Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs secured massive extensions that pushed top-tier annual values past $22 million, prompting speculation about McCaffrey's own contract status. McCaffrey is currently set to earn $12.5 million in non-guaranteed salary for 2026, which ranks 10th among running backs.
McCaffrey is coming off a 2025 season where he led the league with 413 touches and is expected to be a central figure in the 49ers' offense this year. The 30-year-old running back is anticipated to be healthy for the start of the 2026 season, barring any unforeseen setbacks, offering a positive outlook for the team.