Christian McCaffrey sits out practice again with leg tightness

McCaffrey missed Monday's practice with what the team called general tightness, and it wasn't a one-day blip. He sat out again Tuesday, prompting a fresh round of concern from fantasy managers and bettors who've watched this exact movie before.

The 49ers say it's not a big deal. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak told reporters McCaffrey is 'doing fine' and that the team is simply managing his workload under an adjusted training camp schedule designed to avoid stacking three straight full-pad practices. 'He's a veteran player, so you got to monitor him and get him ready for the first week,' Kubiak said, per ESPN's camp coverage.

Context matters here, and McCaffrey's context is rough. He missed 13 games in 2025 dealing with bilateral Achilles tendinitis and a torn PCL suffered on an awkward landing against Buffalo. He came into this offseason claiming 'zero restrictions,' but calf and leg issues have shadowed him for two straight camps now, so any hint of tightness reads louder than it would for a healthier back.

It's not just McCaffrey. The 49ers running back room is banged up across the board right now — rookie Kaelon Black is out with an adductor injury, Jordan James broke his ribs early in camp, and Isaac Guerendo is dealing with a torn pectoral from the offseason. That leaves San Francisco thin at the position with its lead back also on the shelf, which is exactly why the club is being cautious rather than pushing him through.

Sleeper's camp tracker also flagged Puka Nacua leaving practice with an injury the same day McCaffrey sat, adding to a growing pile of 49ers absences that's turning training camp updates into a running injury blotter.

None of this means McCaffrey is trending toward another lost season — camp 'tightness' outs are common load management for star vets, and the team insists his rep count is on schedule for Week 1. But after last year's Achilles-and-knee saga wiped out most of his season, every back-to-back absence is going to get magnified until he's actually back on the field taking full-contact reps.