The 49ers endured a bit of a tumultuous summer with injuries decimating their wide receiver room, but one name who didn't pop up on injury reports was RB Christian McCaffrey -- until now.
McCaffrey was limited in practice due to a calf injury on Thursday, three days before the 49ers' opener against the Seahawks. While it's possible San Francisco was just being cautious, the revelation that McCaffrey is dealing with an injury similar to the one that cost him a large chunk of the 2024 season quickly concerned fans.
The former Offensive Player of the Year was limited to four games in 2024 due to calf and knee injuries.
Here are the latest updates on McCaffrey's status for the 49ers' Week 1 matchup with the Seahawks.
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Is Christian McCaffrey playing this week?
The 49ers have not offered any update on McCaffrey's injury aside from revealing the 29-year-old was limited during Thursday's practice.
Here is today’s 49ers injury report in which RB Christian McCaffey was added with a calf injury one day after he fully participated in practice: pic.twitter.com/ohjq3sALPv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 5, 2025
Before Thursday, all reports on McCaffrey during training camp and the preseason had been positive despite him missing most of the 2024 season.
At this time, there isn't any concrete indication McCaffrey might miss Sunday's game against the Seahawks, but the 49ers have been known to keep quiet about players' health. McCaffrey was expected to play in Week 1 last season all the way until San Francisco's pregame inactive list was released with his name on it. He didn't return until Week 10.
It was a calf/Achilles injury that cost McCaffrey those two months of action, so Thursday's news that he is again dealing with a calf issue sounded alarm bells for 49ers fans and fantasy owners. Whether McCaffrey is dealing with an injury to the same leg is unclear.
Here's who could be next in line for the 49ers if McCaffrey is limited or can't play.
MORE: Fantasy football sleepers for Week 1
49ers RB depth chart
| RB | Player |
| 1 | Christian McCaffrey |
| 2 | Brian Robinson Jr. |
| 3 | Isaac Guerendo |
| 4 | Jordan James |
Knowing his injury history, the 49ers prepared for a potential McCaffrey absence by trading for former Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. in late August. Kyle Shanahan confirmed Robinson is the direct backup to McCaffrey, and his starting experience from his time in Washington bodes well for San Francisco's backfield if McCaffrey is forced to miss time with this injury or another.
Guerendo, now in his second season, filled in for McCaffrey and Jordan Mason late last season and rushed for an efficient 420 yards and four touchdowns on 5.0 yards per carry. Mason, meanwhile, was traded to the Vikings in the offseason.
James, a fifth-round rookie out of Oregon, missed most of training camp with a finger injury. While he's returned to practice on a limited basis, his status for Week 1 is unclear.