The rumor mill has been churning over Christian McCaffrey's recent absence from 49ers practice, with some fans and pundits whispering about a possible contract holdout. But ESPN's Adam Schefter stepped in to set the record straight on Wednesday.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Schefter confirmed that McCaffrey's time off is purely injury-related—specifically, some muscle tightness that the team doesn't consider serious. He also shot down any speculation about a new deal on the horizon.
"This isn't contract related at all and there isn't a new deal coming for Christian McCaffrey," Schefter said. "His absence is related to some muscle tightness that isn't thought to be serious... Barring some setback he will be out there in Australia against the Rams."
The 49ers are set to open the season against the Los Angeles Rams in Sydney, Australia, and Schefter's update suggests McCaffrey will be in the lineup unless something unexpected happens.
This isn't the first time the team has had to address the chatter. Head coach Kyle Shanahan also dismissed the holdout theory on Tuesday, emphasizing that McCaffrey would be playing if it were a regular game week.
"I think they make a lot of assumptions and that would be one that they're wrong on," Shanahan said. "I think if it wasn't Christian and we were in a game week, I think he would play today."
McCaffrey's injury history is well-documented, and the 49ers are being cautious with their star back. When healthy, he's been one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league, but he's missed 37 games since 2020, often landing on the injury report. The team recently added running back depth to ease the load.
On the financial side, McCaffrey's current deal pays him around $12 million per year, which ranks sixth among NFL running backs. While some might argue he deserves more, only Saquon Barkley's $18 million annual salary is significantly higher, with most others within $1.5 million of McCaffrey's number.
For now, the focus is on getting McCaffrey ready for the season opener. The 49ers and their fans are hoping the muscle tightness stays behind him, and that he can deliver another standout performance when it counts.
