49ers Raise Eyebrows With Christian McCaffrey Announcement

The San Francisco 49ers return from their Week 8 bye week with a 6-1 record and a home date against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, yet the first practice report of the week brought a cautious note regarding star running back Christian McCaffrey.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Wednesday that McCaffrey did not practice, continuing to manage the hamstring issue that surfaced late last month.

McCaffrey left the field briefly during the 49ers’ Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons after the injury occurred early in the contest.

He later returned and finished the game, and Shanahan described the problem afterward as mild while expressing optimism that the bye week would allow sufficient recovery.

Nothing in the days since has suggested a worsening of the condition, yet the decision to hold McCaffrey out of Wednesday’s session indicates the team is still proceeding carefully.

Wide receivers Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel were also listed as non-participants Wednesday, while defensive end Nick Bosa, cornerback Nate Hobbs, and receiver Demarcus Robinson were limited.

The broader injury landscape has been a recurring theme for San Francisco this season, making McCaffrey’s availability especially significant.

For now, however, there is no indication he will be ruled out of the Raiders game.

His participation levels on Thursday and Friday will provide a clearer picture of whether he can suit up and contribute at full strength.

Should McCaffrey be unavailable, rookie running back Kaelon Black would step into the primary role in Shanahan’s offense.

Through the first seven games McCaffrey has been one of the few constants for quarterback Brock Purdy amid the various absences on the offensive side.

He has carried the ball 84 times for 389 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 34 receptions for 251 yards, appearing in every contest and serving as both a ground threat and a reliable outlet in the passing game.

The 49ers will continue monitoring the situation through the rest of the week as they prepare to host Las Vegas.

A full or near-full return for McCaffrey would restore a key dimension to an offense that has navigated injuries successfully enough to sit near the top of the standings, while any further limitation would test the depth behind him against a Raiders defense looking to slow one of the league’s more productive backs.