Rumors can spread like wildfire, and Christian McCaffrey’s training camp absence quickly sparked talk of a contract dispute. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport put those rumors to rest, reporting that McCaffrey is dealing with “actual tightness.” The 49ers running back has missed practice for about a week because of the issue, not because he wants a new contract.
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“Let me give you the contract update here,” Rapoport said on The Insiders. “This is not fake. Actual tightness, not fake tightness, not a hold-in, actual tightness. It does not seem to me like anything really to worry about. I know we’ve heard that before with Christian McCaffrey, but for real, this does not seem like anything to worry about.
“The timing of this coming right after Jahmyr Gibbs, right after Bijan Robinson got paid. My understanding? Coincidence. Christian McCaffrey should be fine.”
McCaffrey is in the first season of a two-year, $38 million extension signed in 2024. One could argue that he could be seeking more financial security, but that does not appear to be the case right now.
McCaffrey has not practiced since August 8 because he has some “tightness.” The 49ers have not said exactly where the tightness is or what caused it. So, there are no clear details about his condition yet. His injury history adds more to the concern.
McCaffrey had a difficult 2024 season because of injuries. He dealt with calf and Achilles problems in both legs, which forced him to miss eight games. After returning, he suffered a PCL sprain in his right knee, ending his season. In total, he missed 13 games that year.
In 2025, McCaffrey again dealt with a calf injury. However, this time the problem was not serious enough to keep him out of a game. He continued playing despite appearing on the injury report. But the “tightness” is not that concerning.
“No. My concern would be him toughing through tightness, like a lot of people do,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on media availability after 49ers practice. “Then hurting something bad and pulling something. Then it could be a month. That would be our concern.
So once we hear him talking a certain way, Christian’s a guy who needs to get prepared for Week 1. But also, we’re pretty confident in what he’s done before this, and what he’s done in these two weeks.”
In 2025, he played all 17 games and had a great season. He ran for 1,202 yards and ten touchdowns while also catching 102 passes for 924 yards and seven touchdowns. When his rushing and receiving numbers are combined, he finished with 2,126 total yards, which was the second-most in the NFL.
Losing a player like McCaffrey because of a contract problem or injury would be a big blow for the 49ers.