49ers get eye-popping excellent news on Christian McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey is trending in the fitting course and nearing a return to follow.

The San Francisco 49ers star operating again would have practiced Tuesday if it weren’t a joint follow with the Los Angeles Chargers, in keeping with head coach Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers usually are not working underneath the impression McCaffrey’s missed follow time has any ties to wanting a brand new contract.

“I believe folks make numerous assumptions. That might be one which they’re improper on,” Shanahan stated. “I believe if it wasn’t Christian and we had been in a sport week, I believe he would play at present. … Just a few tightness. They get delicate if I say the place.”

There was hypothesis the three-time First-team All-Professional’s prolonged absence was a sign that he was truly holding in from 49ers coaching coaching camp. However Shanahan has seemingly confirmed the 5 practices McCaffrey has missed have been because of tightness.

McCaffrey is about to earn $12.5 million in non-guaranteed wage for 2026, which at present ranks tenth amongst operating backs, in keeping with Spotrac.

Large extensions for operating backs like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs pushed top-tier annual values previous $22 million, dropping the 49ers star’s relative market standing.

And the timing of McCaffrey’s tightness got here solely days after Robinson and Gibbs reset the operating again market, pushing unfound rumors to the forefront of 49ers camp.

On Tuesday, Shanahan put these rumors to relaxation.

McCaffrey is coming off a 2025 marketing campaign the place he boasted a league-leading 413 touches, and he’s anticipated to stay a fixture of the 49ers offense this yr.

The 30-year-old needs to be wholesome for the beginning of the 2026 season, barring any setbacks, a superb signal for an ailing 49ers squad.