ESPN’s Nick Wagoner reported that McCaffrey took roughly seven reps in team drills on Aug. 23, including several carries, after last practicing Aug. 8 while dealing with what the 49ers called “tightness.”
More importantly for a team preparing to open the regular season against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne on Sept. 10, McCaffrey said the break was built into his preparation.
“Obviously when you don’t practice, the way the media works now it’s a firestorm,” McCaffrey told Wagoner.
But McCaffrey said the 49ers had planned to push his workload early in camp, back him off and then build him up again closer to the regular season.
“This was kind of part of the plan from the jump,” McCaffrey said.
For a 49ers offense that still revolves heavily around the 30-year-old running back, that distinction matters considerably more than simply seeing him back in uniform.
Christian McCaffrey Says 49ers Planned His Practice Break
McCaffrey explained that the initial goal was to get a substantial block of training-camp work before deliberately reducing his workload.He said the plan was to get “nine, 10 practices in,” come back down and then ramp up again so he could remain fresh over the course of the season.
“I feel great,” McCaffrey said, according to Wagoner. “I feel fresh, and it’s good to be back out there.”
that McCaffrey’s missed practices were not contract-related. Shanahan also said McCaffrey would have practiced that day had the 49ers been going through a normal game-week session rather than a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers.
McCaffrey’s comments Sunday further support the team’s position that the absence was about managing his workload rather than a developing contract standoff.
The next question is how quickly San Francisco expands that workload.
The 49ers have one preseason game remaining, against the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 27, before turning their attention toward the Rams.
What McCaffrey’s Return Means for the 49ers RB Depth Chart
McCaffrey’s return also comes as San Francisco’s running back room finally begins getting healthier.This article was originally published on
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