San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Latest injury news is concerning for 49ers entering Week 1

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 10:08 PM ET

Christian McCaffrey is one of the best running backs in the NFL when he's healthy. The problem for the San Francisco 49ers star is that he's dealt with injury concerns for much of his career.

Since being drafted by the Carolina Panthers with pick No. 8 in the 2017 NFL Draft, McCaffrey has dealt with various leg injuries that have hampered his career.

In 2024, he missed 13 games due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis and a PCL sprain in his right knee. The hope heading into the 2025 season for San Francisco was that he was finally healthy, and for all of training camp, he remained unscathed.

It has to be concerning for the 49ers, then, that just days before they kick-off the season against the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 1, McCaffrey has landed back on the injury list.

He was a limited participant in practice on Thursday due to a calf issue, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.

During the 20 minutes open to the media, McCaffrey participated in warm ups and individual drills. He wasn't in the locker room after practice and he didn't do his usual media availability.

49ers are listing RB Christian McCaffrey as limited at today’s practice due to a calf issue.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 4, 2025

49ers could be in trouble without Christian McCaffrey vs. Seahawks

This week 1 matchup is a big one for the 49ers as they look to rebound from missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

This is not the dominant team that made the Super Bowl in 2019 and 2023, but with a healthy McCaffrey and a savvy play-caller in head coach Kyle Shanahan who has always been able to get the most out of his running backs, there was an idea that San Francisco could be dangerous this season.

That can still be the case, of course, but if McCaffrey is limited in Week 1, that will hurt the 49ers' chances against a Seahawks defense that boasts several massive players across the defensive line in Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy, Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence.

That's not to mention the mental letdown that the 49ers would have to overcome if McCaffrey is kept out of this game. Again, that's not yet a reality, but it's certainly a possibility after this injury update and considering his long injury history.

On Thursday, tight end George Kittle was asked about McCaffrey, and he was basically gushing about his teammate.

"I'm very, very much looking forward to being able to block for him and run routes next to him again," Kittle had said.

We'll now have to wait and see if Kittle will get that opportunity on Sunday.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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