49ers' Christian McCaffrey sits out practice with 'tightness' as team 'just managing' him
San Francisco RB Christian McCaffrey was held out of Monday practice with what the team called tightness, the latest in a week of vague injury descriptions.
Christian McCaffrey's preseason has been defined by cautious handling, and the latest chapter came Monday when the 49ers held the star running back out of practice with what the team described as "tightness."
Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet): From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: #49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is actually dealing with tightness.
McCaffrey was the only addition to San Francisco's not-practicing report on Monday, and ESPN's Nick Wagoner noted the team is "just managing" him with an eye toward being ready for Week 1 against the Rams. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak framed it as load management rather than a new setback. McCaffrey has now missed roughly a full week of practices amid vague accounts of the issue, and the club even brought in running backs for tryouts — Nyheim Hines and Zamir White worked out, and Blake Watson visited — while he was sidelined.
The 49ers have been deliberate with McCaffrey throughout camp, and the messaging remains consistent: no alarm, just patience. Whether he suits up for Thursday's preseason finale is unlikely regardless, but the organization's stated goal is a healthy No. 28 for the opener.