The San Francisco 49ers received an unexpected setback Thursday when star running back Christian McCaffrey appeared on the team’s injury report as limited in practice because of a calf issue. McCaffrey had been a full participant in workouts throughout training camp and preseason and was not listed at all on Wednesday, making the development a surprise just days before the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. His history with lower-leg problems adds to the concern—last season, what began as calf discomfort eventually turned into an Achilles sprain that sidelined him for eight games before a later PCL injury forced another long absence.
Team insiders, however, suggest this new issue may be more precautionary than serious. NFL reporters have indicated that there are no signs of a major injury at this stage, with the 49ers carefully managing McCaffrey’s workload to avoid aggravating the calf further. Still, his availability for Sunday remains uncertain, and San Francisco could be forced to adjust its offensive approach if their Pro Bowl back isn’t at full strength. The team will continue to monitor his status closely in the final practices before kickoff.
