49ers RB Christian McCaffrey injury conspiracy shut down by Ian Rapoport

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio made headlines by reporting that several people around the NFL are speculating that San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey's training camp setback could actually be an attempt to gain leverage for a pay increase.

McCaffrey has not practiced since August 8, when he began experiencing what the 49ers described as "tightness." No further details about the setback have been reported.

"There's speculation in league circles that McCaffrey has tapped the brakes on his practice time in an effort to get an adjustment to his contract, which pays out a non-guaranteed $12.5 million in 2026," Florio wrote.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport shut down that speculation Monday, stating that McCaffrey is indeed dealing with a physical issue.

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"This is not fake," Rapoport affirmed. "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 Jaymyr Gibbs, right after Bijan Robinson got paid, my understanding—coincidence. Christian McCaffrey should be fine."

However, Rapoport made it clear that his report does not mean McCaffrey wouldn't be interested in a pay increase after leading the NFL with 413 touches and recording 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 total touchdowns.

"Now, were there some initial check-ins, maybe, about a contract at some point in the off-season? Sounds like maybe there was," Rapoport added. "I don't get the sense that went anywhere, so maybe after the season, he goes out and kills it, gets paid again, and then bolts himself to the top of the running back market again. All possible."