Christian McCaffrey was back on the practice field Sunday, and the San Francisco 49ers running back made it clear there was never much reason for concern about his recent absence, which the team described as "tightness." McCaffrey had been held out of practice for the past couple of weeks, leading to the usual speculation surrounding one of the 49ers' most important players. But according to McCaffrey, the time away was planned from the beginning.

"This was kind of part of the plan from the jump," McCaffrey told reporters after Sunday's practice. "Was to ramp up pretty big, get 9, 10 practices in, kind of come back down, and then ramp back up so we're fresh for the duration."


McCaffrey said the 49ers' training staff has put together specific plans for him and the rest of the veteran players to make sure they're ready for the regular season rather than simply maximizing practice reps in August. "I feel great," McCaffrey said. "So I feel fresh, and it's good to be back out there."

The 49ers have been careful with McCaffrey's workload since his return from the Achilles and calf issues that limited him during the 2024 season. McCaffrey said he's been monitoring his practice schedule since 2019 and acknowledged that his competitive nature can sometimes work against him when it comes to managing his workload.

"I can probably be my worst enemy in how much I just love being out there," he said. "I want to run. I want to go. I want every play. I'm a competitor. I love it."

That's why McCaffrey said it's important to trust the people around him who understand the bigger picture. "When you have people smarter than you that understand not just what you've been through, but what we plan on doing this season, it's about being fresh for the duration," he said. "And it's about 17 Sundays and, God willing, more weeks after that."

McCaffrey spoke about working alongside a deep running back room that has impressed him throughout training camp. He specifically mentioned rookie Kaelon Black and second-year RB Jordan James, while also praising the competition throughout the position group. McCaffrey said the room has developed a strong culture under running backs coach Bobby Turner.


"Our whole room is so deep," McCaffrey said. "So many guys who just play the right way, who go through meetings the right way." The star running back also made sure to mention the other backs in camp.

McCaffrey described the room as "a fist," a phrase Turner has emphasized with his players. "That room's a fist," McCaffrey said. "And obviously starts with Bobby and bleeds down to us."

The 49ers' veteran running back also had plenty to say about George Kittle's return to practice. Kittle has made a remarkable recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered last season, and McCaffrey said the tight end's work behind the scenes has been just as impressive as what fans have seen on the field.

"I've been watching him for the last, I don't know, four or five weeks going out there and working out, and he looks incredible," McCaffrey said. "It's a testament to his work ethic, how much time he puts into recovering."

McCaffrey added that Kittle's presence is felt throughout the team whenever he puts on the pads. "When 85's on the field, when he's in shoulder pads and a helmet, everybody on the team feels it," he said.


For McCaffrey, Sunday's practice was less about proving anything and more about getting back to doing what he enjoys. "I think football is the best," he said. "Anytime you're out there, you're with your teammates, you're playing football. That's why we do it."

After all the outside noise surrounding his absence, McCaffrey offered perhaps the simplest explanation possible: the plan was to get him ready for the season, not necessarily to keep him on the practice field every day. And now he's back.

Written By:

Marc Adams


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