Christian McCaffrey: Absence from practices was 'part of the plan from the jump'
George Kittle getting activated from the physically unable to perform list wasn’t the only positive news from San Francisco on Sunday. Star 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey also returned to the practice field.
CMC participated in team drills for the first time since Aug. 8, as he dealt with “tightness” for a fortnight. The running back said that the time off was part of the plan to ensure he’s ready for another long season.
“Obviously when you don’t practice, the way the media works now, is a firestorm,” McCaffrey said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “This was kind of part of the plan from the jump -- to ramp up pretty big, get nine or 10 practices in, kind of come back down and then ramp up again so we’re fresh for the duration.
“Our staff has done a great job of coming up with specific plans, and I feel great. I feel fresh and it’s great to get back out there.”
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With McCaffrey sitting out practices, rumors began to fly. From questions about his injury status to speculation that his absence was contract-related. Interestingly, the 49ers’ brass could have simply said the RB's absence was a plan of sorts from the beginning, but did not. McCaffrey dismissed the stories and noted that sometimes he needs to be protected from his own competitive nature.
“Sometimes I can probably be my own worst enemy in how much I love being out there,” McCaffrey said. “I want to run, I want to go. I want every play, I’m a competitor, I love it and I think 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 and it’s about 17 Sundays and God-willing more weeks after that.”
Following an injury-plagued 2024 season, in which he played just four games, CMC touched the pigskin 413 times, including 311 carries, a career high, last season. Managing the offseason makes sense for a player vital to the Niners’ success in 2026.