Overview
- The 49ers have said Christian McCaffrey has missed over a week of practice because of unspecified “tightness” and coach Kyle Shanahan says the club is being cautious to avoid turning a minor issue into missed regular-season games.
- League voices and commentators led by Mike Florio have suggested the timing of the reduced workload could be a deliberate “hold-in,” a tactic players sometimes use to press teams for contract adjustments.
- McCaffrey’s current two-year extension runs through 2027 and carries a reported non‑guaranteed $12.5 million cash payment in 2026, which commentators say gives him an incentive to seek more guaranteed money.
- Recent three-year extensions for Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs have pushed new-money averages to about $22.5 million per year, creating a market comparison that fuels the leverage argument.
- The facts remain unresolved: the team has not identified which body area is tight, McCaffrey led the NFL with 413 touches in 2025 and the situation could either be medical load management or an effort to prompt talks; watch for a medical update or contract discussion before the season starts.