49ers should consider Christian McCaffrey update a sigh of relief

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

49ers should consider Christian McCaffrey update a sigh of relief

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Aug 23, 2026 3:59 PM ET

The health of the San Francisco 49ers keeps improving, just in time for the start of the season.

On Sunday, the 49ers removed star tight end George Kittle (Achilles) from the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, signaling he may play in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 (Netflix, 8:35 p.m. ET) in Melbourne. San Francisco fans received even more good news after the Kittle update.

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey returns to practice

Matt Barrows of The Athletic reported that McCaffrey returned to practice after missing five consecutive sessions because of "tightness." He didn't play in the team's first two preseason games against the Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers, either.

Multiple theories aimed at explaining McCaffrey's absence have emerged over the last week. Some suggested he may have been limiting his practice time to increase his 2026 salary (non-guaranteed $12.5M), while others hypothesized the Niners may have been trying to keep a severe injury under wraps. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan dismissed both ideas this past Tuesday, saying the issue wasn't contract-related, and the RB would play if it were the regular season.

According to the San Francisco Standard's David Lombardi, McCaffrey confirmed himself that his absence was because of a body-preservation plan.

Kittle and Christian McCaffrey are in uniform as practice begins
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) August 23, 2026

CMC confirms that his training camp practice absence was simply part of a camp body-preservation plan.

Another reminder: Careful where you get information (especially 49ers info)
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 23, 2026

Shanahan wasn't bluffing. Now, he must get McCaffrey up to speed before the season starts. That shouldn't be too challenging. McCaffrey, who played four games in 2024 because of knee and Achilles injuries, won the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year after finishing second in the NFL in scrimmage yards (2,126, 1,202 rushing and 924 receiving) and third in touchdowns (17, 10 rushing and seven receiving).

The 49ers should be mindful of McCaffrey's workload. Last season, the 30-year-old running back played 932 snaps, the third most in his nine-year career.

The 49ers will want to see more from rookie RB Kaelon Black (pick No. 90 of the 2026 NFL Draft), so he can become a guy who gives McCaffrey an occasional breather. The former Indiana Hoosier has rushed for 33 yards on eight carries (4.1 yards per carry, below average) in preseason.

The RB2 spot, however, becomes much less of a concern in the wake of McCaffrey's return. Knowing he can practice again is a huge stress reliever for the 49ers, who are preparing for a competitive 2026 NFC West title race with the Rams and Seattle Seahawks.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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